Repetitive Strain Injury And Physiotherapy

Common causes of RSI

Literature describes the causes of RSI to be primarily be lifestyle or worklife without ergonomic concerns or care, e.g. using a poorly handled knife, or blunt knife, everyday, over time causes RSI. Or simply by placing the monitor too much to the right, or to the bottom, causes our necks to stiffen and muscles to shorten in a particular fashion, inducing repetitive strain injury, over time. If you're a budding or veteran musician, you're likely to have one already.

A list of typical actions or habits that lead to RSI

1. Reading or doing tasks for extended periods of time while looking down e.g. iPhone, books etc.


2. Sleeping on an inadequate bed/mattress or sitting in a bad armchair and/or in an uncomfortable position.


3. Carrying heavy loads.


4. Clamping phone between neck and shoulder for a phone conversation


5. Watching TV in a prolonged position.


6. Sleeping with head to the side, or forwards.


7. Prolonged use of the hands, wrists, back, neck on a specific task.

Symptoms of repetitive strain injury

1. Short bursts of severe cramping and/or excruciating pain over a widespread area of the body


2. Pain worsens with activities or exercises


3. Noticeably weakness in limbs





Frequency And Occurrence

55-70% of workers in US and UK suffer from some kind of RSI, the most common RSI problems are the back and neck, wrists and the hands.

Physiotherapy Examinations And Tests

Initial examinations includes primarily clinical palpations, and if any tenderness or weakness are detected on mobility-related tests e.g. pinch or pinch strength weaknesses, with no other obvious signs of abnormalities. The patient will present with a healthy body or body part that has pain.

Physiotherapy Treatment

From what we know theoretically and clinically experienced in ourselves and in our patients, most of the time, most of the RSI that is sustained will resolve on their own, given that the affected area is sufficiently rested when the RSI started. I myself have intermittent trigger finger and de Quervain's tenosynovitis, which, with rest, splinting, and gentle active and passive exercises and stretches, will heal.

But, on the other hand, it can escalate in pain experienced in terms of intensity, frequency and duration painful moments, and I've managed patients who had their repetitive strain injury for years, some chose to live with it and come to me periodically for pain relief and mobility exercises, some opt for surgical interventions.

The most commonly prescribed physiotherapy intervention for repetitive strain injury in our clinics are a clinical mix of rest, icing therapy, exercise therapy, gentle stretches, splintingand clinical massage therapy. Sometimes we also provide ultrasound to speed up the healing process.

Ergonomics And Workstation Consultancy

The computer and workstation is often blamed for the development and aggravation of repetitive strain injury in workers, especially for the back and neck, hands and wrist ones, so ergonomic and environmental modifications and adjustments of the workstation or work site are often required. For this, we modify the layout of the worker in relation to his or her working environment, and whenever possible, the equipment and job processes.

Alternatives to help

1. Adaptive repetitive strain injury prevention software such as speech-type, break timers and auto-mouse-click.


2. Adaptive hardware such as ergonomical keyboards, tablets, touch screens, roller mouse


3. Splinting to provide the rest the body part requires.


4. Physiotherapy or hand therapy for pain relief, exercise therapy


5. Office exercises to keep active and fit


6. Activity modification to minimize damage caused as opposed to non-work at all


7. Stress Management

How can we help you? For a physiotherapy, hand therapy or occupational therapy appointment, please go here.

To see a list of physiotherapy, hand therapy and occupational therapy conditions we treat in Singapore, please go here.

To go back to our Singapore physiotherapy, hand therapy and occupational therapy page, please go here.



Urbanrehab Pte Ltd - Physiotherapy & Hand Therapy Services

Hands-on Home Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
Ergonomics and Human Factors Consultancy
Mobility and Therapy Equipment

Telephone: +65 6611 1778 | SMS +65 9774 6535
Email: nigel@urban-rehab.org


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