What is RSI?
Compare the computerworker with a runner. After a while the body of the runner will give signals to make clear that the runner has to take a rest. Signals like heavy breathing, higher pulse rate, tiredness in the muscles etc… the body of the runner says STOP please or else. The runner can take a rest to recover and go on or the runner can stop the run session. The signals should not be ignored and if they become to strong, you have to stop. If the runner ignores these signals, his body can be seriously injured or worse it can literally quit!
Behind the computer we don’t get exhausted in the same way as a runner, higher pulse rate, heavy breathing etc… the signals are different and much more subtle. You feel a little bit of burning eyes, some cramp in the neck, arm or hand. Because the signals are more subtle, they don’t feel like tiredness and can be easily ignored. The computer saps all your concentration and you will feel the signals afterwards. First you feel numb but then that will disappear, then you feel some pain and it will remain longer during the day and then after a while it stays and before you know it, it starts to influence your daily life.
Why do we ignore these signals so easily. First, because of the concentration the computer is demanding from us. Second, the signals start are on a very low pain threshold. Third, we just do our work sitting down and sitting down is associated with resting, so I don’t get tired. Do I? And fourth, we are healthy. Because of this we go on with our work and we ignore the signals. If you keep ignoring the signals the body itself will say I QUIT! And that really hurts.
RSI in your head?
Often you hear that RSI is something in your head and in part that is correct! Stress, perfectionism, fear to fail etc…. that is in your head, but the body symptoms are there and can become a real physical problem. That too explains that someone can be more susceptible for RSI then the other.
Description of the term RSI / CANS
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is a collective term for complaints to the upper body, like the neck/shoulder line, arms and hands. Because the term RSI says little about the area where the complaints manifest itself, the medical world talks rather of CANS. CANS means Complaints Arms Neck and Shoulder. Nevertheless RSI is naturalized and we still use this term.
How do I get RSI?
RSI complaints are mostly caused by long term working in the same body position with superannuated work, like working with the computer. Computer work gives the ideal opportunity to develop RSI, because we work long hours without knowing that we are doing that. We do this at work but we do this also at home.
RSI is supposed to come in three phases. The first phase of RSI is just some light irritation, feels like an annoying cold and tingling sensation in the hand, arm, neck, or shoulder, but after work the sensation disappears. The second phase; the body signals will be stronger, some pain will appear and it stays longer during the day. But it also disappears. The third phase; the pain is constantly, even lifting a teacup will be hell. The arm, hand, fingers can feel numb and cold. The use of the fine muscular of the hand is almost impossible. Phase three means, it takes a long time to recover.
Research of RSI is still going on and a lot of questions need to be answered. For example the phases as written before is not a definition as it will go. Sometimes you start in phase three. It turns out to be that RSI has also a strong psychological cause next to the physical cause. Perfectionism, fear to fail, a lot of stress at home or at work will give a higher tension of the muscle and therefore a bigger chance to develop RSI. People who live on a daily base with unacceptable stress of any kind (by work, home or by them selfs) are more sensitive to RSI complaints.
The best way to prevent RSI is to move during and after your work hours. Try to break the static cycle of your computer work. FWD encourages you to do some small exercises during your work, which are not very noticeable but still highly effective. Next to moving at the job, it is very important to move in personal time. We are not saying that you have to do that on a professional level, just start out with walking, cycling, swimming whatever you feel comfortable with. This is important because, when you improve your body condition it will make you more resistant to RSI, but also to other annoying complaints.
If you want to know more about RSI and its research, we recommend these easy links. These links will feed your hunger for more information about RSI. The links are Dutch, but they have an English translation.
EASY links:
RSI Patienten vereninging:
www.rsi-vereniging.nl
Erasmus Universiteit:
www.kineos.nl
Arbo Platform Nederland:
www.arbo.nl
TNO Arbeid:
www.arbeid.tno.nl
Arbo online:
www.arboonline.nl
Bureau beroepsziekten FNV:
www.bbzfnv.nl