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About RSI
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) are the nation's most common and costly occupational health problem, affecting hundreds of thousands of American workers, and costing more than $20 billion a year in workers compensation. Massage is for You strongly believes that education is a key to prevention and relief of RSIs. We invite you to learn about RSIs. What is an RSI? Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is an umbrella term for a number of overuse injuries affecting the soft tissues (muscles, tendons, and nerves) of the neck, upper and lower back, chest, shoulders, arms and hands. Typically arising as aches and pains, these injuries can progress to become crippling disorders that prevent sufferers from working or leading normal lives. RSIs most typically are the result of combining repetitive movement with physical stress. Repetitive strain injuries can be primarily muscular in nature or involve restrictions in the nerves and blood vessels. As tension accumulates in our muscle tissue from overuse or improper use of our bodies, our muscles must work harder to perform every movement small or large. As the muscles work harder more tension accumulates and lines of strain form through our bodies. The muscle tissue and connective tissue (fascia) becomes thick, tough, and dehydrated forming adhesions to adjoining muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels. These restrictions and adhesions compromise our range of motion and ease of movement. They may also appear as weak or easily fatigued body parts. Nerves and blood vessels become squeezed or impinged. This causes the tingling and numbness often associated with RSIs. The blood flow is diminished and the muscle cells do not receive proper nutrition and removal of waste products. The cells repair more slowly while we place an increasing demand on our muscles causing the cycle of RSIs to spiral downward. At some point in the downward spiral our bodies realize there is a serious and growing problem. Its response is to fire off pain signals through our nervous system. The pain is really a warning sign indicating our body's need for attention and assistance. These symptoms can become so severe that it is difficult to perform simple daily functions such as combing hair, writing, driving, grasping small objects, etc. Our quality of life is compromised and our world grows smaller. Symptoms Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Numbness, pain, aching, swelling, weakness of the wrists, fingers, and forearms Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Numbness, weakness and pain in the neck, shoulders, chest, and entire arm Tendonitis Pain occurring near the elbow or wrist joints, often involves loss of range of motion and dysfunction. Neck and Shoulder Pain Pain and dysfunction affecting the neck, shoulders, upper back, upper chest, upper arms, and armpits Forearm Pain Pain and weakness occurring between the wrist and elbow, loss of grip strength. Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome Numbness and pain extending from the elbows, through the outer forearm and into the ring and little fingers.Includes Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer's Elbow) and Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow) DeQuervains Syndrome Pain in the base of the thumb up through to the wrist, loss of function and range of motion in the thumb. This syndrome is also known as "blackberry", "Nintendo", "iPod" and "Text Messaging" thumb. This thumb is an irritation of the muscles and tendons at the base of the thumb. It is a rapidly growing condition as more people use thumb-operated gadgets. Causes Repetitive movement combined with physical stress The muscles of our body are required to perform within the same limited range of motion for many hours, tightening some muscle groups while others are under utilized pulling the alignment of our joints and the structure of our bodies out of alignment Chronic tension in the muscles in the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands Tension in our muscles squeezes down on nerves and blood vessels compromising blood flow and clarity of information through the nervous system Improper biomechanics Forcing our body, muscles, and joints to work in positions and movement patterns which accumulate tension and strain Improper Ergonomics Poor set-up of work stations and tools causing unsupported posture and muscle strain High levels of stress Emotional stress releases adrenaline and other hormones into our system, manifesting as tension in our musculature as well as increasing load on our heart and other vital systems of our body Old injuries and surgeries Scar tissue from past injuries and surgeries creates less flexibility in our muscle tissue creating lines of strain associated with RSIs Poor Posture Poor posture forces our musculature to work harder to hold us erect; as we slouch, areas of our body become shortened compressing blood vessels, nerves, and organs compromising their function Prevention RSIs can be very challenging to overcome. By far, prevention is the best strategy. Here are the keys to prevention of RSIs. Proper biomechanics Using our bodies in the most efficient and supported manner greatly reduces chronic muscle tension. Vary your activities Break up long time periods of any single repetitive motion activity to give your muscles a chance to rest and recover from work. Stretching Stretching relieves tension in the muscles and increases circulation. Proper ergonomics Set up your work station and tools to fit your body; less effort equals less strain. Lower your stress level Less stress allows for less tension in your body, and less tension allows for less muscle strain. Proper hydration and nutrition Your soft tissues (muscles, connective tissue, organs, nerves and blood vessels) require proper hydration and nutrition. The healthier the tissue remains the less likely it is to build up strain. Drink lots of water and other healthy fluids. Movement Your muscles and other soft tissues thrive on movement. Take any opportunity to move? walking, gentle exercise, yoga, dancing, etc will keep your tissue healthy. Proper posture and body alignment Your body works most efficiently and comfortably when it is long, aligned and well supported. Use proper posture to go through your day with less effort and less tension. Treatment Treatment options for RSIs range from surgery, to anti-inflammatory drugs, to physical therapy, to massage therapy and Hellerwork. Different people have had varying degrees of success with all of these treatment protocols. It is a difficult and individual decision to find the treatment modality you feel most comfortable with and most hopeful about. Many variables such as duration of injury, site of injury, condition of affected tissues, and a persons general health influence which treatment option will be most successful. **Check with your Doctor before starting any treatment program** Massage Therapy: Massage therapy can be helpful to reduce tension and stress in the body. If the work is targeted to RSI related structures, symptoms can be relieved. |
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