Repetitive Movement Strain

A injury due to repetitive movement is an injury or multiple injuries to the nervous system and musculoskeletal structure caused by repetitive use of one or more muscles and joints in the body. It happens when you perform the same action over and over again.

Repetitive moving, such as scrubbing or washing, can lead to an injury.

A repetitive stress injury usually occurs after the age of 30 and is a result of wear and tear from the overuse of muscles, tendons, joints and ligaments as you age. These repetitive motion injuries can occur in the shoulders, back, neck, hands, hips, wrists, elbows and lower limbs. It is a general term that refers to many conditions including (but not limited to) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, de Quervain's Disease, Writer's Cramp, Vibration White Finger, Radial Tunnel Syndrome, bursitis, tendinitis (tendonitis), tenosynovitis, and trigger finger.

Injuries due to repetitive movement are quite common and often referred to by other names including: repetitive stress injury, repetitive motion injury, repetitive motion disorder (RMD), cumulative trauma disorder (CT), occupational overuse syndrome, overuse syndrome, regional musculoskeletal disorder, and work related upper limb disorder (WRULD, ULD).

Repetitive Injury Symptoms

Tenderness, swelling, and redness in the affected area.
Pain when you move the area that may cause you to wake throughout the night.
Numbness, stiffness, weakness or tingling in the affected muscles, tendons, joints and bones.
Discomfort brought on by a particular task that improves when it is stopped - i.e., when pain lessens or disappears over weekends or during holidays.

Repetitive Injury Causes

Daily repetitive movements (usually longer than 2 hours per day) usually involved with working in a factory (sautering or assembling pieces), office (typing or clicking a mouse), or warehouse (lifting or twisting).
Poor posture while working at a desk or awkward positioning while performing tasks such as shoveling, sliding, lifting, and twisting frequently.

Kneeling during work everyday, like tiling or scrubbing floors, puts excess pressure on the knee tendons and bursa which can cause repetitive stress injuries.

Heavy loads and forceful exertion on bursae, muscles, tendons, joints, and ligaments that cause trauma or fatigue.
Frequent vibrations that cause blood vessels to constrict and impair circulation.
Repeating the same movement during a sport or leisure activity such as gardening.

Examples of Repetitive Strain Injury

Housemaid's Knee (pre-patellar bursitis) - long periods of time kneeling to tile or scrub a floor
Biceps tendinitis (tendonitis) - repeated scrubbing motion
De Quervain's Disease - repeated twisting of the wrist or pinching motions
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) - forceful backward bending of the wrist when painting with a brush
Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis) - forceful forward or twisting motion of the wrist when pulling on ropes

Repetitive Injury Treatments

If a Repetitive Stress is detected early, there is a greater chance that the condition can be reversed and symptoms can be eased.

If you have been diagnosed with an injury due to repetitive movement, it is recommended that you rest the injured body part from any aggravating factors, especially the task(s) that caused the condition. Your physician may also recommend painkillers/anti-inflammatories, PT visits, the use of a Cold Compress or Ice Pack, stretches and exercise, ultrasound and/or tens. We recommend you speak with your physician about utilizing our home treatment devices for enhancing your recovery.

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During your recovery, you will probably have to modify and/or eliminate any activities that cause pain or discomfort at the location of your soft tissue injury until the pain and inflammation settle. Always consult your doctor and/or Physical Therapist before using any of our outstanding products, to make sure they are right for you and your condition.

Please be aware that this information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider before using any of our outstanding products to make sure they're right for you and your condition or if you have any questions regarding a medical condition. Always see your doctor for a proper diagnosis as there are often many injuries and conditions (some very serious) that could be the cause of your pain.