Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
Background on computer related Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and Keyboard Injuries
‘Back to Back’ was set up in England in 1991, by Bunny Martin, to specialise in the prevention of computer related Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and go on site into the workplace to offer Lectures and individual Physical and Ergonomic Workplace Assessments, individual treatment and preventative support.
In England an estimated 2.5 million work days are lost due to RSI (or Work Related Upper Limb Disorders, WRULDs) and they are now the most common single cause of occupational related absenteeism in the developed world.
There has been a rapid rise in the occurrence of RSI over recent years due to the introduction of new technology into the office and work place. Growing numbers of workers are at risk because they are engaged in high-speed repetitive operations, such as keying in information, usually in fixed postures for prolonged periods of time.
The painful symptoms of these disorders are caused by the gradual progressive inflammation of the tendons of the wrist, arms, hands and neck when using specific equipment for long uninterrupted periods.
In many cases there are no outward or visible signs of the disorder, but if aggravated it can become extremely painful, highly disruptive, of family and working lives of those who suffer from it - and in extreme cases permanently disabling.
Once RSI is fully established in the body it can be a minimum of 2 years before treatment will have a long lasting effect.
The consequences are seriously debilitating because of extreme pain in any movement of the hands and arms, mundane or otherwise. Some patients cannot even pick up a cup of tea, brush their teeth, turn on a tap or drive a car.
RSI is preventable and Back to Back believe that it is vital that everyone should be given the necessary information to be able to prevent it.
