Cures for Repetitive Stress Syndrome

We’ve all heard of carpal tunnel and tennis elbow injuries, and yes, you know when you have a flare up! Reasons for these types of discomfort or pain are varied. The common denominator is tissue dysfunction. As muscles need to contract/relax in order for us to move, the tissue inside of us actually slides and glides. As this tissue becomes “sticky” for lack of a better word, movement, blood flow and interstitial fluids all become restricted. What you feel is the limited flexibility, weakness, or pain. Scan enough cans at a checkout in the grocery store, and you’re possibly in for some discomfort. Hit enough tennis balls, attach enough bolts on a production line and the same thing happens.

Tissue restriction and dysfunctional muscle movement patterns can be the result of repetitive movement, sustained or awkward postures, overuse, post-surgical and disease processes. When tissues can no longer move properly, fatigue sets in, and a cascade of increased abnormal muscle firing patterns try to compensate.  There  are numerous ways to address tissue movement injuries, including tissue release and targeted exercises (that’s what we do) massage, physical supports, and sometimes even surgery.

Another approach is to vary how you work. What is meant by this can be:

 1. Job rotations where an employee works in different stations that use different sets of muscles. This is proving to be useful in reducing workmen’s comp claims and incidentally fighting on-the-job boredom for line workers, AND adds valuable skill value for the employee.

2. Alter you posture BEFORE you feel stiffness, pain or fatigue. We recommend and teach every 15 minutes!  

But what if you sit at a desk all day with one hand on a mouse and the other holding a phone? Here are a few suggestions that might help:

1.  Stand when talking on the phone. Pace, if your space allows. Do knee bends and stretches. (Skip the jumping jacks unless you have a really big office and can close the door…)

2.  Get a desk top that allows you to sit or stand. Some portable desks have a height adjustment that works great.

3.  Shake it out. Stretch your arms across your body; flex your wrists, shake your hands and wiggle your fingers regularly.

4.   If discomfort persists, see a therapist who can provide more solutions than these basic suggestions.

5.  CHANGE YOUR POSITION, MOVEMENT, POSTURE every 15 minutes.

The key is to change your posture or movements very ofte