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Introduction
Repetitive Strain Injuries in the wrist primarily occur from repetition of a physical movement. This repetition causes damage to tendons, nerves, muscles, and other soft body tissues. Occupations ranging from typists to musicians are at greater risk from developing this condition. Even activities such as gardening and weight training can cause a repetitive strain injury of the wrist. The rise of computer use and flat, light-touch keyboards that enable high speed typing have resulted in an greater incidence of this wrist injury.
These repetitive tasks often place excessive stress on muscles and nerves in the hand and wrist and cause a musculoskeletal disorder (a painful and often crippling disease) tendonitis, ganglion cysts, and tenosynovitis. These are all serious hand and wrist disorders that are showing up in dramatic numbers among workers in all industries.
Cause
Repetition of a movement can cause wrist tendonitis, sprains, bursitis.
Symptoms
It often starts with a slight ache every now and then, which people often ignore. As time passes and the damage continues, individuals may experience symptoms while performing the repeated activity, when typing for example.
As the situation becomes more severe, pain may be felt most of the time, even with the slightest movement. One or both upper limbs may be affected. Many people also experience numbness and tingling. Sometimes, this and the pain mean that they find it difficult to hold objects, and often drop them.
Treatment
- Prevention is always better than a cure so therefore reduce the amount of time spent doing activities that have caused the injury. Thus use of wrist supports and better seating position will help to reduce pressure on the wrist.Also take frequent breaks from the movement.
- The repetitive movement is similar to giving the muscles a workout. This means that just like with any exercise or sport, they need warming up beforehand, and to go through a warm down period afterwards.
- Heat or cold packs will reduce pain and discomfort
- Painkillers and Anti-inflammatory medicines
- Elastic wrist supports
- Acupuncture
- Firm wrist splints
- Physiotherapy
- Osteopathy
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation exercises and wrist braces will help speed up recovery and prevent further injury.You may need to wear a brace to immobilize your wrist. If you play sports, you may need to wear a wrist brace when you return to play.
