Newsletter from Dr. Rebecca Caplan, Chiropractor in Brookline
Repetitive Strain Injury
What is repetetive strain injury (RSI)?
RSI refers to injury to a joint and surrounding tissues from chronic misuse. Some common causes of RSI are:
- improper typing technique
- sleeping while travelling with head lolling without support
- holding phone with your head to your ear
- chopping vegetables with a dull knife
- reading while looking down
- carrying heavy bag or backpack
- using hands/wrists/back/neck awkwardly or excessively
Sudden onset of RSI
Symptoms:
- sudden sharp pain in the arm, back, shoulders, elbow, wrist, hand, or thumb
- pain is worse with activity
- sensation of weakness and lack of endurance
- sometimes the pain is diffuse, spreading over a large and indistinct area, seemingly unconnected to distinct joints
Physical examination may show only tenderness and diminished performance on effort-based tests such as grip and pinch strength. There may be swelling over the effected joint but not always. X-rays and EMGs are normal.
What to do if you have RSI
When symptoms first appear:If the area is rested and iced an RSI can resolve on its own. If not symptoms can last years and may eventually require surgery.
Treatment includes:
- rest and massage to the area
- ice
- stretching and strengthening exercises
- ergonomic* corrections to the workplace
- relaxation exercises for wrists, hands for computer users
- break timers to make sure you take breaks
- examination to discover joint misalignments and muscle imbalances
- correcting muscle imbalances: some muscles will be tight and weak. Correction involves the proper care for surrounding muscles such as stretching the muscles that are in spasm and strengthening the weak muscles
Further treatment involves reducing inflammation in your body. This involves avoiding foods and chemical exposures that are generally inflammatory for most people and discovering what may be a problem for you in particular. Such exposures will increase the inflammatory response in your body and slow or prevent recovery. Examples are:
- junk food
- smoking
- sugary and refined foods
- fried foods
- spices may be, although cayenne can be anti-inflammatory
The science of designing the job and equipment to fit the worker specifically to prevent fatigue and injury.
Recommended reading
There is certain reading I continually suggest to patients. The books and website listed below hold a wealth of information easily applicaple to one's life.
Our Toxic World, by Doris Rapp, M.D. www.dorisrappmd.com
Strong Women Stay Young, by Miriam E. Nelson, Ph.D.
Strong Women Strong Bones, by Miriam E. Nelson, Ph.D.
Eat Right for Your Type, by Peter D'Adamo, N.D. www.dadamo.com
Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill, by Udo Erasmus www.udoerasmus.com
The Zone, by Barry Sears, Ph.D.
Weston A. Price Foundation: www.westonaprice.org
I hope you've found this newsletter both enjoyable and helpful. If you're curious about something you'd like to see addressed in a future newsletter please let me know! I'll be happy to write about it! You can email me.