What are repetitive stress injuries?

When a worker has to repeat the same physical actions while on the job, they risk getting a repetitive stress injury.

These injuries may sound on paper like something less problematic than they are. Unfortunately, this can easily lead to people underestimating their impact.

What causes RSIs?

Healthline discusses the ways repetitive stress injuries impact health. RSIs form due to repetitive motion, which will aggravate the tissue around the active joint, causing swelling. The swelling can then wreak havoc on the affected area of the body, cutting off blood supply, lowering oxygen levels and pinching or otherwise damaging nerves.

RSIs occur in any profession that requires repetitive motions. This includes everything from a surgeon to a fast-food worker. Teachers, assistants, mechanics, grocery store clerks, artists and more all do jobs that require some form of repetitive motion. Many do not stretch appropriately or take enough breaks throughout the day, either because they do not have the time or simply do not know that they should.

Proper healing for RSIs

The only way to heal an RSI is through proper rest of the affected area or, in severe cases, surgery followed by rest in accordance with the doctor’s orders. This creates a potential issue in the form of time away from a job.

Many people do not have the paid time necessary to cover multiple days or even weeks away from work. However, returning to work with an RSI will only exacerbate it. This puts RSI sufferers in a tricky situation and serves as a major reason why many will seek compensation for on-the-job injuries and related financial difficulties.