What Is A Repetitive Motion Injury And How To Deal With It?
What Is A Repetitive Motion Injury And How To Deal With It?
Repetitive motion injuries, as the name suggests, are injuries that happen from using one part of the body over and over again in a specific action. This puts extreme stress on the joints, tissues and muscles located in that part of the body, and this overuse leads to an injury. It could include any activity ranging from cycling to typing, causing pain and swelling in that part of the body. Most of the injuries that happen daily result from repetitive activities in sport or professional work.
Symptoms of repetitive motion injuries
The symptoms of this kind of an injury may be mild to severe depending upon the condition of the overused part of the body. The symptoms may happen in combination and may last for a few days to a few months depending upon how much it is allowed to heal. The symptoms are:
• Pain
• Tenderness
• Tingling sensation
• Numbness
• Throbbing
• Weakness and fatigue
• Cramps
Types and causes of repetitive motion injuries
Two types of repetitive motion injuries may happen to people though they may often occur at the same time.
• Tendinitis- Tendinitis refers to inflammation of the tendons. The tendons are fibrous tissues that join muscles to bones and facilitate movement throughout the body.
Due to overuse of a particular portion of the body, the tendon may get inflamed at the site where it joins the bone and also the tendon sheath that connects to the muscle may suffer an inflammation. These injuries mostly happen at the wrists, biceps and triceps.
• Bursitis- A bursa is a sac that has a cushioning or lubricating effect between the bone and the tendon because these areas go through maximum friction. Bursitis is the inflammation of this lubricating sac, and this kind of injury may mostly happen at the knee, hip and elbow.
Treatment for repetitive motion injuries
Rehabilitation is very important for repetitive motion injuries, and it may include a combination of home treatment as well as proper therapy. A visit to a doctor is a must if the pain persists and interferes in your daily life. Depending on the severity of the injury, the doctor may suggest medications, exercises, self-help measures or surgical treatment.
• Icing- Icing and compressing the area along with pain medications, can be the best sort of immediate help to relieve the injury. It helps to soothe the inflammation and provides comfort to the patient. Pain medications like paracetamol or anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and pain-blocking drugs can be used for short term purpose.
• Rest- the best method suggested by doctors to people involved in repetitive work is to take proper rest periods when they start feeling fatigued. They are advised to take breaks in between long stretches of work, stretch themselves a bit, and change their positions to relieve the muscles and tissues of the body part that is being overused. A fatigued of the injured body part due to repetitive motion needs proper rest before you start working again.
• Strengthening the tissues- Some doctors say that the best kind of treatment for repetitive motion injuries is to strengthen the tissues through physical therapy. Once the pain subsides and the muscle gets repaired, you should try to strengthen it.
