About Repetitive Stress Disorders

The term repetitive stress injury (RSI) refers to a group of conditions caused by placing too much stress on a joint. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is included in the category of RSIs. Repetitive stress injury happens when the same action is performed repeatedly. When stress is placed on a joint it pulls on the tissues around it. These tissues include muscles, tendons and bursae. This can cause pain and swelling in the muscles, tendons and bursae. When an action that is stressful to a joint is repeated frequently, such as when playing tennis or typing, the area does not have time to recover and it becomes irritated. This can cause the area to become painful and swollen. The two most common types of repetitive stress injury are tendonitis and bursitis. Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon. Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa.

RSIs generally occur in those over the age of 30 as a result of the normal wear and tear of aging. The incidence of RSI is becoming more widespread as many jobs now require people to make repetitive actions such as typing or clicking a computer mouse. It can also occur more frequently in those who play sports. DeQuervain's tendosynovitis is caused by repeated pinching or twisting of the wrist.