What Are Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)?
RSI’s are injuries that are caused by a build up of stress on a tissue due to a repetitive movement. An example of an RSI in the foot would be Achilles Tendonitis from repetitive running, or one that causes wrist pain is De Quervains tenosynovitis which is an inflamed tendon of the thumb caused by repetitive use of a screwdriver. All tissues in the body are designed to withstand a certain load so if they are subjected to more load than they can cope with then they will breakdown and become injured. Although not labelled RSI’s, many injuries that come on for no apparent reason will have a repetitive strain element to them, which is why at The Physiotherapy Place we always look for the cause of your pain as well as treating the injured area itself.
How Is Repetitive Strain Injury Treated?
Treatment of RSI is two-pronged; firstly the tissue itself must be treated to reduce inflammation and encourage healing, but also the action producing the repetitive strain must be modified or removed to give the injury a chance to heal. A degree of rest is often required in order to kick-start the healing process but once things get going, active rehab such as hands on physio and exercise can be done and the activities that caused the RSI can be reintroduced in the correct manner.
How Long Does It Take For Repetitive Strain Injury To Heal?
This depends on how much the aggravating factors can be eliminated and on the degree of tissue damage. For example, an RSI in your right hand might take a while to settle if you rely on that hand for typing and writing at work. Most repetitive strain injuries involve tendons so if all of the conditions for healing are optimal, tendons usually take in the region of 2-3 months to heal.
What Exercise Can I Do With RSI?
After an initial period of rest, exercise is helpful in the healing process of RSI. Usually this will begin with specific stretches for the muscles involved and then when the tissue is ready, strengthening will begin. Any form of exercise that avoids aggravating the injury can be continued throughout.
What To Avoid When You Have RSI?
The key is to avoid the activity that has caused the RSI in the first place. If this cannot be avoided then it should be modified as much as possible to avoid more repetitive strain.
What Will A Physio Do?
A physiotherapist will identify the tissue that is injured and also what has caused the RSI in the first place. Treatment will revolve around this and will involve:
Taping or bracing the area to take pressure off the damaged tissue
Activity modification to allow tissue repair
Hands on therapy will be used to aid tissue healing
A tailored stretching and strengthening program will commence when appropriate to regain strength and flexibility in the area
If these steps are followed then a full and quick recovery should be made.
