Repetitive strain injuries occur often in modern-day society. They can occur in a number of different body parts, and more often than not they are the result of occupational motions. Overusing a particular limb or digit can cause types of inflammation that can lead these painful syndromes to develop, and assembly line workers and computer workers are particularly prone to being affected by a type of repetitive strain injury. In this article, we’ll discuss the type of repetitive strain injury known as tendonitis, as well as some of the lesser known types of repetitive stress injuries so that you know what to look out for if your job requires you to regularly overuse a part of your body.
Tendonitis is a common form of repetitive stress injury. It’s a problem that can strike in many different areas of the body. Tendonitis occurs when a tendon within the body becomes inflamed, and tendons are present across the body. Some of the most commonly affected areas by tendonitis include the elbow, the wrists, the arms, shoulders, legs, knees, ankles and hips. Many of these forms of tendonitis develop due to participation in sports; for instance, many rock climbers develop a case of tendonitis within their fingers, and many basketball players develop tendonitis in the knees due to the amount of jumping that they perform.
Tenosynovitis is a type of repetitive strain injury that is similar to tendonitis in a number of ways. As opposed to an inflammation of the tendon as in tendonitis, those with tenosynovitis develop an inflammation of the sheath that surrounds the tendon. More often than not, cases of tenosynovitis develop within the fingers, and the syndrome is also known as ‘trigger finger’. Those with a case of tenosynovitis may experience limited range of motion within the fingers, and may feel a cracking occurring when they try to straighten the affected fingers.
Cubital tunnel syndrome is a type of repetitive strain injury that is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome. Those with a case of cubital tunnel syndrome experience compression of the ulnar nerve which is located within the elbow. Cases of cubital tunnel syndrome may result in a limited range of motion of the elbow, as well as a feeling of burning and numbness present within the elbow.
There are many things that you can do in order to decrease the likelihood that you will be personally affected by one of these cases of repetitive stress injuries. First and foremost, it’s important to pay attention to the muscles and the joints that you regularly use within your life. You need to ensure that you don’t overuse these delicate areas, so be sure to take breaks when in the middle of repetitive motions. If you begin to feel pain or fatigue in an area of your body that you are using to perform a task, take it as a warning sign and step back from the activity. Also, ensure that you are using good posture, as it can be a great preventative measure when it comes to lessening the chance of developing a repetitive strain injury.
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