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Repetitive Strain Injuries

What is an RSI?

Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) are injuries involving damage to muscles, tendons and nerves caused by overuse or misuse. They most commonly affect the hands, wrists, elbows, arms, shoulders, back, or neck. Unlike strains and sprains, which usually result from a single incident (called acute trauma), repetitive strain injuries develop slowly over time; thus, they are also called Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD) or Muscular Skeletal Disorders (MSD).

Who is at risk?

The majority of RSIs are related to computer use, though other repetitive work tasks, such as pipetting and heavy lifting, as well as hand-intensive sports and hobbies such as knitting or playing a musical instrument, can cause or aggravate an RSI. Working at a computer puts you at risk for an RSI because part of your body is held in a static posture while other parts move incessantly. Both static postures and constant activity can cause first microscopic and then macroscopic damage to biologic tissues. If allowed to progress, an RSI can develop into a permanent disability.

Any combination of the following factors can lead to an RSI:

  • Repetition: The repetition of small, rapid movements, such as keying or mousing, for long concentrated hours.
  • Static posture: Holding the same position, especially an uncomfortable or awkward posture, for a long period of time.
  • Improper workstation setup: A workstation (table, chair) that cannot be adjusted to position you properly and comfortably at your computer or other work activity.
  • Force: Using excessive force to complete tasks.
  • Insufficient rest time: Intensive hours of working with too few rest breaks to allow your body to recover from an activity.

Where does it hurt?

The symptoms of RSI include: muscle aches, tenderness, swelling, pain, crackling, tingling, numbness, loss of strength, loss of joint movement and decreased coordination in the injured area. Often the pain is worse when sleeping. Advanced symptoms include weakness, especially in the thumb muscle, and clumsiness in your hands. If your hands are affected, you may find yourself dropping things or it may be difficult to do even simple tasks like buttoning a shirt.

These symptoms may appear in any order and at any stage in the development of an injury. Symptoms may not appear immediately after the activity that is causing the problem and are not necessarily experienced in the body part where the actual stress is occurring. For instance, if you wake up in the middle of the night with elbow or shoulder pain, that may be a sign of a repetitive strain injury resulting from keying or mousing at a computer.

In general, the more intense the symptoms, the more often you experience symptoms, and the longer symptoms last, the more serious your injury is likely to be. A serious injury can develop only weeks after symptoms appear, or it may take years.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, do not ignore them! -- they may be warning signs of a developing RSI: contact your physician immediately!.

What should I do?

  • Stop or reduce the activity that is causing you discomfort. If you have trouble remembering to take a break from computing, use a break program to remind you. See Break Software at MIT for programs available for download at no charge to MIT staff and students.
  • See a doctor. If you have even mild symptoms, don't wait to seek medical attention. MIT students and staff are eligible to be seen at the MIT Medical Department (E23). If you are a member of an MIT Health Plan, make an appointment with your primary care physician. If you are an employee who is not a member, call 253-4481 (the general MIT Medical number). Tell the receptionist you are an MIT employee, that you believe you have a work-related RSI and want an appointment with an Employee and Occupational Health Provider.
  • Get a work station evaluation. Contact the Environment, Health and Safety Office (telephone: 452-3477) and make an appointment to have an ergonomic evaluator visit your worksite and make recommendations for changes. You can also do a self-assessment of you workstation by a) taking the EHS web-based course on ergonomic workstation setup and/or b) check out guidelines for workstation setup .
  • Check out adaptive equipment. The Adaptive Technology for Information and Computing (ATIC) Lab has alternative keyboards and pointing devices, voice recognition software, and other assistive devices useful to persons with an RSI. Contact the ATIC Lab at 253.7808 or atic@mit.edu for an appointment.
  • Contact the Disabilities Services Office (DSO). If your injury is interfering with your ability to do your work or studies, make an appointment with DSO by calling 253-1674, or send an e-mail message to dso-www@mit.edu .
  • Contact the Human Resources Workers' Compensation Office. If you are an employee with a work-related injury and think you may be eligible for Workers' Compensation, go to the Human Resources Workers' Compensation Office in E19-215, or call 253-9496.
  • Learn more about RSI. Read our brochure (in PDF format), read books, join a local group, check out websites, and sign on to an electronic mailing list and discussion group.
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