Although our country is doing well in terms of the number of COVID-19 cases, we are still expected to work from home as much as possible. Have you noticed that, as a result of working from home so much, you’re starting to experience discomfort in your wrist, arm, neck or shoulder? If so, this could be a sign of RSI. RSI (repetitive strain injury) is a collective term for muscle and joint complaints of the hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, and/or neck. With RSI, it is important that you seek help in good time, as the symptoms get worse the longer you carry on with the problem. RSI is often only noticed when it is too late.
How does RSI occur?
RSI is an injury caused by repetitive strain. Simply put, it comes down to one performed a movement too many times. Nowadays, working at a computer is the most common cause of RSI. If you spend a lot of time working at a computer, it puts strain on your fingers, wrists, arms and the shoulder and neck area. These muscles will start to ache and your blood circulation will deteriorate. Good blood circulation is particularly important in your hands and fingers, which are put under a great deal of strain by typing and using a mouse.
When would you say someone has RSI?
RSI symptoms develop gradually and can affect your hands, arms, shoulders, neck and upper back. The symptoms usually start as a tingling sensation, a feeling of coldness or numbness, or mild pain. These symptoms can worsen into chronic pain and stiffness. If you suffer from neck pain, this can also cause headaches. Your symptoms may also move from one part of the body to another. In principle, RSI complaints are often not seen as alarming. Many people are not surprised to sometimes have a sore wrist or cold fingers. Also, the pain and fatigue are localised, not really bothersome and disappear after the action. Over time, however, the pain persists and loss of strength begins to occur. In the final stage, the pain persists, even at night.
Because RSI is a collective name for many conditions, it is often also referred to as more specific conditions such as tennis elbow, mouse arm or carpal tunnel syndrome.
What can you do yourself to prevent it?
Besides typing and mousing, workload and working conditions (workplace ergonomics) also play a role. RSI appears to be mainly caused by short-term high workloads, rather than after long-term low workloads. Tips:
- Sit directly in front of your computer and make sure you can look straight at the screen.
- Make sure your chair is at the right height for your desk.
- Change your posture regularly. Avoid sitting in the same position for long periods. Make sure you adopt a relaxed posture.
- Make sure there is sufficient variety in your work. When working at a computer, you should alternate between using the mouse and typing as much as possible.
- Try to keep your wrist straight whilst performing all your movements. Do not move or turn your wrist outwards.
- Make sure you take plenty of breaks to relax your muscles.
- Provide appropriate workplace supplies such as: (vertical) mice, armrests and ergonomic keyboards
RSI treatment at FRISKFYSIO in Amstelveen
Especially if RSI symptoms increase, it is important that you seek help from our (specialised) physiotherapists. The RSI treatment we offer at our physiotherapy practice focuses primarily on addressing the underlying causes of RSI. In other words, we examine all the factors responsible for the development of your RSI symptoms. These underlying factors lead to the build-up of tension in the affected area.It is important to understand how the symptoms developed, as this is crucial for determining the right course of treatment. Would you like to book a physiotherapy appointment to discuss treatment options? Please call 085-5000333 For an appointment, send an e-mail to info@friskfysio.nl or fill in the contact form on our website. We will contact you as soon as possible.
