Ohio workers like you often expose yourself to risks in the workplace. You may not even know it. After all, repetitive strain is a risk for everyone and seemingly innocuous actions can cause it.
What is repetitive strain? What injuries result from it? And how can these injuries hinder your ability to continue working?
How can you get an RSI?
Healthline looks at the impact repetitive strain injuries have on your body. First, you must know what these injuries are. Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) happen when you repeat the same motion over and over. An example would include swiping items at a register or typing on a computer. Assembly line workers also suffer from RSIs at a high rate.
RSIs are a degenerative issue. This means that they worsen over time without treatment. You cannot simply ignore an RSI and hope that it gets better on its own. If you proceed to work as usual, you will cause compounded damage. In some cases, the damage is severe enough that you need to undergo surgery.
Why are RSIs damaging?
RSIs damage the body through swelling. Swollen areas pinch nerves, which creates pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in the affected limb. It makes it difficult or impossible for you to use said limb. This means you cannot perform your work tasks to the best of your ability, or at all.
You also need to take time off work to recover. After all, rest is the only real way to ensure that your RSI heals. This combination can render you incapable of completing work you used to do without a problem.
