Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is a common injury to suffer in the workplace. And if you’re suffering from persistent pain and swelling, then this could be the reason behind it. Below, we explore RSI and how you can prevent and treat it.

What is repetitive strain injury?

Repetitive strain injury refers to when a part of the body grows painful after repeated use. Some of the most common areas that RSI affects are the shoulders, hands, fingers, wrists, and elbows. If any of these areas have been impacted by RSI then you’ll notice symptoms like burning pain, stiffness, weakness, tingling, muscle cramps, and finally swelling. These symptoms will usually emerge gradually and become more painful over time.

Common causes and activities that increase the risk

RSI is usually caused by the over-exertion of a specific part of the body. For instance, if your job leads you to stress the same muscles repeatedly, then there’s a good chance that you could develop RSI. Alternatively, RSI can also develop if you frequently stay in the same posture for a prolonged period of time. Some professions are more likely to lead to RSI as a result. Dental hygienists, construction workers, cleaners, cooks, and bus drivers all carry out the sort of activities that heightens the risk of RSI. If your employee does not provide you with safe conditions to work and you have developed RSI, you may be entitled to compensation. By using a compensation calculator, you’ll be able to see a rough estimate of what you might stand to earn to help you with your recovery.

How to prevent and treat RSI

There are steps you can take to prevent RSI if you suspect you might be at risk. By maintaining a good posture at work, taking regular breaks, trying breathing exercises if you’re stressed, and stretching during the day, you should be able to prevent RSI.

If you’re already suffering from RSI, there are ways you can try and ease the symptoms. For a start, you should try and stay active, even if this is painful. Taking paracetamol or anti-inflammatories can help you remain active. Meanwhile, you should rest, ice, compress and elevate the injured area at regular intervals during the day. Finally, it’s worth speaking to your employer about the problem: together you can try and work out what caused the issue and how to address it.

RSI can be painful and debilitating. But there are ways to prevent and ease RSI. By following the guide above, you should be set to protect yourself from RSI or at least respond effectively to the symptoms.