Repetitive Strain Injury

A repetitive strain injury (RSI) is a condition that can affect anyone. This type of injury can occur in most parts of the body due to a repetitive action that is unnatural to the body. Fortunately, there are homemade treatments which could decrease the pain.

What Are Repetitive Strain Injuries Repetitive strain injuries result from an action frequently performed for long periods. These may go from sitting at a desk while writing on a keyboard, lifting heavy objects, playing sports or an instrument, or even being in poor physical condition. For this reason, RSIs are also known as repetitive stress injuries.

These common injuries can have different severity levels depending on the activity patients perform and their care once they occur.

If you suspect that you have an RSI, you should take immediate measures to decrease pain. If the pain persists, see a medical professional.

Common Symptoms of Repetitive Strain Injuries

While RSIs most commonly affect the wrists, hands, forearms, elbows, neck, or shoulders, they may also occur in other body parts. The most common signs include:

• Pain, even while not performing a specific action

• Swelling for no apparent reason

• Recurrent stiffness, tingling, or numbness

• Weakness Although the symptoms mentioned above could be mild, they may gradually worsen.

Extreme RSIs can even prevent patients from performing daily tasks.

How To Prevent Repetitive Strain Injuries

There are different ways of preventing RSIs from happening. Resting between stressful or unnatural postures or actions can help your body recover, even before symptoms appear.

For example, if you work at an office and sit for long periods, you can stand and walk every 45 minutes to let your muscles rest. Remember that RSIs are gradual and, most of the time, happen without notice until the damage is more obvious.

How To Treat Repetitive Strain Injuries

The most traditional home treatment is to apply RICE (rest, ice, compress and elevate). Depending on the pain level, patients can also take anti-inflammatory drugs to cope better. However, if pain persists after 1-2 days of home care, expert help might be necessary. If you experience lingering pain and suspect an RSI, schedule an appointment with Dr. John and Dr. Amy soon for diagnosis and treatment!