Why is carpal tunnel a repetitive motion injury

Carpal tunnel is likely more common in people with a congenitally smaller tunnel space. Trauma or injury to the wrist, thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and pregnancy can also contribute to the disorder. It usually occurs only in adults.

A rehabilitation program for repetitive motion injuries is designed to meet the needs of the individual patient, depending on the type and severity of the injury. Active involvement of the patient and family is vital to the success of the program. The goal of rehabilitation after a repetitive motion injury is to help the patient return to the highest level of function and independence possible, while improving the overall quality of life — physically, emotionally, and socially.

In order to help reach these goals, repetitive motion injury rehabilitation programs may include the following:. Patient and family education, especially regarding proper ergonomics for the workplace ergonomics is the science of obtaining a correct match between the human body, work-related tasks, and work tools. A: Repetitive strain injuries are often caused by poor practices in the workplace.

Whether your workplace is liable to pay compensation will depend on the laws of the country you are working in.

In the U. Q: Is repetitive strain injury permanent? A: Repetitive strain injury can be cured with appropriate treatment, which may range from rest to surgery. Some severe cases may not be entirely cured. Effective treatment should be complemented by changing the activity that caused the injury.

See Treatment for repetitive strain injury above. Q: Which types of repetitive strain injury affect the wrist? A: Of the types of repetitive strain injury mentioned in this resource, the ones that can affect the wrist are:. Type 2 or diffuse RSI, where the injury cannot be classified into a specific syndrome, can also affect the wrist.

Q: Which types of repetitive strain injury affect the thumb? A: Of the types of repetitive strain injury mentioned in this resource, the ones that can affect the thumb include:. Type 2 or diffuse RSI, where the injury cannot be classified into a specific syndrome, can also affect the thumb.

Q: Which types of repetitive strain injury affect the shoulder? A: Of the types of repetitive strain injury mentioned in this resource, the ones that can affect the shoulder are:. Type 2 or diffuse RSI, where the injury cannot be classified into a specific syndrome, can also affect the shoulder.

Q: Which types of repetitive strain injury affect the elbow? A: Of the types of repetitive strain injury mentioned in this resource, the ones that can affect the elbow are:. Type 2 or diffuse RSI, where the injury cannot be classified into a specific syndrome, can also affect the elbow.

Q: Which types of repetitive strain injury affect the forearm? A: Of the types of repetitive strain injury mentioned in this resource, the ones that can affect the forearm are:. Type 2 or diffuse RSI, where the injury cannot be classified into a specific syndrome, can also affect the forearm. Q: Can repetitive strain injury cause arthritis? Repetitive strain injury is a term describing damage to tissue, such as tendons and muscles, through overuse. While the tissue damage itself cannot cause arthritis, the reasons behind the RSI, e.

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Occupational Safety and Health Administration. International Tennis Federation. This website meets the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. What is repetitive strain injury? There are a number of conditions that can be classed as repetitive strain injuries, including: [1] [2] [3] Carpal tunnel syndrome , which affects the median nerve in the wrist Tendonitis in the wrist and hand Tendinosis Tenosynovitis, which affects the membrane surrounding a tendon Bursitis in the wrist, knee, elbow or shoulder Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis Cubital tunnel syndrome, which affects the ulnar nerve in the elbow Ulnar tunnel syndrome , also known as Guyon canal syndrome, which affects the wrist Trigger finger or trigger thumb, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis People with these conditions experience symptoms ranging from a gentle ache to sharp pain in the affected area or limb that limits their ability to work and perform everyday actions.

Symptoms of repetitive strain injury Symptoms of repetitive strain injury in the affected limb can include: [2] [5] [6] [7] [8] Tingling Tightness Weakness Swelling Throbbing Loss of sensation Tenderness Burning sensation Numbness Cramping Ache Sharp pain Shooting pain Difficulty moving certain fingers, especially the thumb or index finger Clumsiness Body parts commonly affected by repetitive strain injuries include: Hands Wrists Arm Neck Shoulder Back Causes of repetitive strain injury The common factor in all types of repetitive strain injuries is repetitive movements causing injury to body parts.

Read more about pain the lower back » Types of repetitive strain injury Repetitive strain injuries are divided into two categories: Type 1 and Type 2 RSI. Carpal tunnel syndrome The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist made up of ligament and bone.

Read more about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome » Tendinopathy Tendinopathy describes when tendons, which connect muscles to bone or other body parts, become injured. There are two types of tendinopathy: [13] Tendonitis, which is when the tendon becomes inflamed. This can be caused by a sudden injury or by overuse Tendinosis, which is when the tendon does not become inflamed. Tendinosis is typically due to a buildup of small injuries that fail to heal.

This is usually caused by overuse Tendonitis or tendinosis can be considered a repetitive strain injury when overuse is the cause. Areas of the body that are commonly associated with tendinopathy include: Heel Wrist Elbow Thumb Read more about Tendonitis » Tenosynovitis Tendons are surrounded by a protective sheath called the synovium. Any tendon sheath may be affected, but tenosynovitis commonly affects tendons in the: Ankles Feet Wrists Hands Trigger finger and trigger thumb Stenosing tenosynovitis, commonly called trigger finger or trigger thumb, occurs when the sheath surrounding tendons in the fingers become damaged.

Bursitis Bursitis is a form of repetitive strain injury that can affect the knee, elbow, wrist or shoulder. Activities that can lead to overuse include: [22] [23] Repetitive gripping, such as cutting meat, painting or using a screwdriver Playing racket sports, such as tennis In most people, it affects the dominant arm.

Bakers who flex or extend the wrist while kneading dough, and people who flex the fingers and wrist in tasks such as milking cows, using a spray paint gun, and hand-weeding are other examples. Excessive use of vibrating hand tools may also be related to carpal tunnel syndrome.

A possible link between carpal tunnel syndrome and computer mouse use is uncertain. While keyboarding work is generally not a risk factor for developing carpal tunnel syndrome, it can cause pain and exacerbate symptoms for those who already have the condition. Note that the repetitive motions required for keyboard work and the use of a computer mouse may be related to the development of other injuries.

The following table lists common tasks and related occupations associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Some studies show that psychosocial factors such as stress can also contribute to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome.

All these diseases and situations increase the volume of the contents of the carpal tunnel, resulting in compression of the median nerve.

Also some individual factors, such as the size and shape of the wrist and the shape of the median nerve, may contribute to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. Women are three times more likely than men to develop carpal tunnel syndrome and this difference could be because a women's carpal tunnel are generally smaller than those in men.

The typical symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are tingling of the thumb, and of the index, middle, and ring fingers, and night pain. The pain awakens the patient, but is often relieved by shaking, hanging, or massaging the hand. Pain may involve not only the hand, but also the arm and the shoulder. Numbness and loss of manual dexterity occur in more advanced cases. Weakness of the hand also occurs, causing difficulty with pinch and grasp.

The person may drop objects or be unable to use keys or count change with the affected hand. The skin may dry because of reduced sweating. People who suspect carpal tunnel syndrome often consult a doctor. The evaluation of occupational carpal tunnel syndrome includes identifying workplace risks. Evaluation begins with a discussion of the person's employment and requires a detailed description of all the processes involved in a typical day's work.

It also requires consideration of the frequency, intensity, duration and regularity of each task performed at work. Diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome is confirmed by performing certain tests to detect damage to the median nerve. When symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are mild or likely to be temporary, treatment includes rest, anti-inflammatory drugs, cold packs, or a splint. Even if a patient wears a splint that has been prescribed, he or she should avoid the activities that caused or aggravate the injury.

Where this is not possible, patients should wear the splint after work and particularly during sleeping hours. Specific exercises supervised by a physical or occupational therapist and yoga can be beneficial. Surgery may be necessary if the symptoms are severe and if the other measures do not provide any relief. Surgery should not be the first choice for treatment.

Even after surgery, a number of patients may still have some problems. It is best to seek a diagnosis and treatment as early as possible to avoid permanent damage to the median nerve. Prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome may involve redesigning work stations, tools, or the job, and educating workers. Proper work station design reduces awkward wrist positions and minimizes the stressful effects of repetitive motions. Awkward positions can originate from unsuitable work station designs that do not take into account the size and proportions of the human body.