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| RSI is a work-related disorder that affects the neck, lower limb, lower back, legs, jaws, chest and vocal chords. |
If
your work involves prolonged sitting or computer usage, be sure to take
breaks at appropriate intervals. For, continuous sitting and poor
office ergonomics can not only affect your eyes but also result in
repetitive strain injuries (RSI).
RSI
is a group of ‘overuse disorders' affecting muscles, tendons and nerves
of the neck, upper and lower back, chest, shoulders and hands.
Doctors
say that if a person is finding it hard to move the neck after a hard
day's work or gets shooting pain in fingers and hands frequently, he/she
should seek immediate medical advice.
Arising
as minor aches and pains or numbness, these injuries can progress to
become crippling disorders that prevent people from leading normal
lives. Symptoms of RSI include pain, burning, numbness, tingling,
giddiness, stiffness, clumsiness, swelling, coldness, skin
discolouration and a constant need to stretch or massage one's arms.
AT RISK
Deepak
Sharan, consultant in orthopaedics, rehabilitation and ergonomics at
RECOUP Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation Centre, says early
intervention is important in keeping these injuries from progressing to
permanent disorders.
“Over 500 young IT/ITeS professionals in India have already lost their jobs because of advanced, neglected RSI,” he says.
Citing
a study conducted by him, Dr. Sharan says 75 per cent of the 35,000
computer professionals surveyed from 2001 to 2009 suffered from this
disorder.
“According
to our study, while neck and upper back are affected because of RSI in
60 per cent of people, lower back is affected in nearly 40 per cent of
people.”
He adds that in 20 per cent of those surveyed, the injury was a generalised disorder associated with constant pain and numbness.
Participants
of the study were aged around 27 years. Most of those diagnosed with
the disorder were males, especially those who worked out regularly.
JOB DISSATISFACTION
It
is not just computer professionals who are affected. According to Ashok
Kumar Singhal, consultant neurologist at Apollo Hospital, anyone whose
work involves prolonged sitting can get the disorder. “I have a patient
who is a tabla player,” he says.
Apart
from incorrect posture and prolonged sitting without breaks, other
common causes of RSI include intense, repetitive work and mental stress
at work or home, anxiety, depression and job dissatisfaction.
Both
these doctors say they had diagnosed the disorder among teachers,
journalists, RJs, dentists, nurses, surgeons, massage therapists,
children and housewives too.
“All
organisations, big and small, must invest in comprehensive ergonomic
intervention programmes with both proactive (mandatory training on
ergonomics, posture, individual workstation assessments and fitness
sessions) and reactive (early onsite RSI therapy) elements,” Dr. Sharan
suggests.
“Microbreaks of five seconds every five minutes and macrobreaks of two minutes every 30 minutes is a must,” he adds.
Source :
thehindu dtd 23/04/2012
