Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

RSI is a broad and generic term that encompasses a variety of injuries resulting form cumulative trauma to the soft tissues of the body, including tendons, tendon sheaths, muscles, ligaments, joints, and nerves. Such injuries are typically associated with the soft tissues of hands, arms, neck, and shoulders.

Occupations ranging from meatpackers to musicians have characteristic RSIs that can result from the typical tasks they perform. The rise of computer use and flat, light-touch keyboards that permit high speed typing have resulted in an epidemic of injuries of the hands, arms, and shoulders.

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  Anatomy of the Hand and Wrist

 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

CTS is the most widely known repetitive strain injury. The carpal tunnel is the area inside the wrist through which the median nerve passes. It is formed by the wrist bones and a ligament. CTS is typically caused by repeated and cumulative stress on the median nerve. Symptoms of CTS include numbness, a tingling sensation, and pain in the fingers, hand, and wrist.

Evidence suggests a higher incidence of CTS among women than men. According to a study, the overall incidence rate for CTS is increasing at a rate of more than 15 % per year.

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 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome