Repetitive Strain Injuries & KOC Initiatives

1. Repetitive Strain Injuries & KOC Initiatives

2. F a c t s & F i g u r e s • OSHA estimate over 700,000 RSI’s occur every year • 15-25% of computer users throughout the world may have estimated R S I • 3 out of 5 office workers in Sweden have symptoms of R S I • Every day 6 people in UK leave jobs due to an R S I • 75% of Indian Computer Users report pain/numbness

3. What is RSI • Repetitive strain injury (RSI), is a loose group of conditions from overuse of the computer, guitar, knife or similar motion or tool. • It is an occupational overuse syndrome affecting muscles, tendons and nerves in the arms and upper back. • It is also known as work related upper limb disorder or WRULD. • The medically accepted condition in which it occurs is when muscles in these areas are kept tense for very long periods of time, due to poor posture and / or repetitive motions.

4. O t h e r N a m e s for R S I • Work Related Upper Limb Disorder • Occupational Overused Syndrome • Cumulative Trauma Disorder • Computer Related Injury

5. R o o t C a u s e s of R S I • Poor body mechanics • Poor Work habits • Inappropriate Workstation Setup

6. How is RSI Caused Repetition of job tasks Causes Too much Stress O n Muscles Tendons Other soft Tissues Nerves Leads to R S I

7. T y p e s of R S I Some of the types are: Carpel Tunnel Syndrome Tendonitis Tenosynovitis Trigger Finger / Thumb Cubital Tunnel Radial Tunnel Syndrome Intersection Syndrome Stenosing Tenosynovitis

8. S y m p t o m s of R S I • The following may indicate the onset of an RSI: • Recurring pain or soreness in neck, shoulders, upper back, wrists or hands. • Tingling, numbness, coldness or loss of sensation. • Loss of grip strength, lack of endurance, weakness, fatigue. • Muscles in the arms and shoulders feel hard and wiry when palpated. • Pain or numbness while lying in bed. Symptoms may be caused by apparently unrelated areas — hand numbness may be caused by a nerve being pinched near the shoulder. In the initial stages of RSI, an area may be in quite bad condition but not feel painful unless it is massaged, or feel weak unless a long endurance exercise is performed. Therefore all areas of the upper body are considered when evaluating an RSI condition.

9. Prevention & Treatment of RSI • Ergonomics • Physiotherapy • Acupuncture

10. Do’s & Don’ts Do’s • Seek Professional Medical help • Meet Right Specialist for Right Solution Don’ts • Ignore or deny you have a problem • Take pain killers • Cures the symptoms not the problem, long term effects • Join a gym or start weight training • Take a vacation hoping the pain will go away with rest

11. Prevention of RSI • The following applies to typing or computer use: • RSI is best prevented in its early stages. • Pay attention to pain and fatigue. • Stop using the computer when you begin to feel symptoms. • Download a RSI break reminder program such as workrave or Break Reminder for Windows, or AntiRSI for Macs and install it on every computer you use.

12. Prevention of RSI • For computer users: • Pay attention to posture. • The head and back should form a straight line from the ears to the pelvis. • The shoulders and head should not be hunched forward. • Take regular breaks. • Do not rest your wrists on a pad.

13. Prevention • Hold your wrists straight, rather than bent up, down, or to the side. • Try different input devices rather than the mouse and keyboard; variety is good. Consider speech recognition, graphics tablets, tablet PC's or trackballs. • Keep in good shape, with regular aerobic exercise, adequate sleep, drinking enough water, and not smoking. • Learn a systematic muscle-relaxation technique such as diaphragmatic breathing, qigong, or progressive muscle relaxation to help keep neck and shoulder muscles relaxed.

14. Treatment • Methods in addition to the above preventative techniques. • Gather as much information as possible on their disorder. • Cannot be achieved solely by medical professionals. • Requires active participation by the patient over a long period. • Refer experts for advice. Occupational Therapists, physical therapists, physiotherapists, surgeons and alternative medical practitioners. • Partial or complete cessation of hand activity might be necessary for some period of time in order for healing to begin. • Adaptive technology ranging from special keyboards and mouse replacements to speech recognition software might be necessary.

15. Treatment • The medical professional may prescribe orthopedic hand braces, but the patient should not self-prescribe, or further injury might result. • Medical professional might prescribe Non-Steroidal anti inflammatory medications. • Cold Compression Therapy administered , or perhaps immediately followed by TENS therapy administered by a health professional, circumvents occupational stress and may be one of the simplest ways to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. • Soft Tissue Therapy works by decompressing the area around the repetitive stress injury thus enhancing circulation and promoting healing. • Biofeedback can be used to reduce stress-related muscle tension in the muscles of the neck and shoulders.

16. Treatment • Massage treatment (for acute pain and nerve trigger points). This is best administered by a trained therapist but self-massage is also sometimes helpful. • Stretches-Occupational therapy or physical therapy to rebuild strength and flexibility. Strengthening exercises To improve posture and reduce fatigue in the long term. Should be prescribed by a medical professional. Overuse of the strained muscles and tendons can worsen symptoms. Surgery Should only be used as a last resort. Not always effective

17. How can you Prevent R S I ? • Proper Workstation Setup • Postural Training • Good Work habits

18. WorkstationSet Up Ideal • Neck Posture • Sitting Posture • Typing Posture • Use of Mouse

19. S t r e t c h e s • Take rest breaks • Practice good body mechanics • Exercise at work – Stretch !

20. Strengthening Exercises

21. KOC Initiatives in preventing RSI Ongoing • Awareness Sessions for employees on RSI & proper ergonomics • Flashes for awareness circulated among employees. • Poster developed for good ergonomics

22. KOC Initiatives in preventing RSI Proposed • HSEMS Procedure being developed. • Includes Health Screening Study /Checklist and Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and Health Impact Assessment Criteria . • The scope applies to all new projects. • Purpose is to eliminate any hazardous agent/condition as far as reasonably practicable. • Human factors are included in the checklist e.g.: periods of time spent on display screen equipment • Health Impact Assessment Criteria including section on ergonomics. • RSI related issues addressed and criteria for establishing a minimum requirements for DSE is given .

23. R S I may be worse than you think P r e v e n t it before it causes permanent D a m a g e

24. T h a n k Y o u !