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More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles
Repetitive Strain Injuries
Edwin, a 34-year-old housepainter living in Maryland, had done it almost every morning without thinking. He put his watch on his wrist and maneuvered the two ends of the leather strap around it. But this time he had trouble fastening the straps. Then he looked at his wrist and noticed the problem. It was so swollen that the watchband no longer fit.
In time, even holding a comb or a toothbrush caused pain in his hand. So Edwin went to see a doctor. After examining Edwin and learning that for ten years he had been scraping, plastering, and painting walls, the doctor told him “The pain you’re feeling is job related. You have repetitive strain injury (RSI) or tennis elbow.”
What Is RSI Or Tennis Elbow?
Keep in mind that RSI does not refer to one illness but to a group of illnesses. All ailments of this group affect muscles, tendons, joints, and ligaments, especially those of the upper limbs. Many factory and office workers are given the same diagnosis as Edwin. RSI is also referred to as lateral epicondylitis, which is an injury to the muscles and tendons along the outside aspect of the elbow joint. This condition typically results from overuse or repetitive stress. This injury does not happen only to tennis players, but also to people who perform repetitive movements of the elbow such as mechanics, cake decorators, butchers, gardeners, and others. The symptoms include difficulty gripping and lifting objects (especially if the elbow is straight), pain and stiffness at the elbow joint, tightness and weakness of the forearm muscles, and tenderness along the outside of the elbow where the tendons attach to the bone.
Is This Job Related?
Modern jobs can be a challenge. Workers put in long hours at jobs that often force them to make repetitive movements and that demand constant mental attention. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that “there is strong evidence for a relationship between exposure to a combination of risk factors (e.g., force and repetition, force and posture) and epicondylitis. The evidence is clear that an exposure to a combination of exposures, especially at higher exposure levels (as can be seen in, for example, meatpacking or construction work) increases risk for epicondylitis.”
How Physical Therapy Helps
RSI can become a chronic problem if not properly treated. The goal of physical therapy during the initial phase of treatment is to decrease inflammation and pain by resting the joint and using modalities such as ice and/or Iontophoresis. Iontophoresis is sometimes referred to as a “shot without the needle,” as this modality uses an electrical current to push anti-inflammatory medication into the target area (the painful elbow). The next phase of physical therapy targets improving flexibility, strength, and function of the elbow and forearm muscles. The last phase of physical therapy treatment emphasizes a gradual return to activities of daily living. Contact your local physical therapist before you develop chronic pain.
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