by Dr. David

Created on: July 27, 2008

According to http://www.arthritis.ca, a repetitive-stress injury "is the name given to a group of conditions that are caused when too much stress is placed on a joint. Repetitive stress injury happens when the same action is performed over and over." The most common repetitive-stress injuries are tendonitis, and bursitis. Don't think you are alone if you suffer from a repetitive-stress injury; almost 40 million Americans suffer from repetitive-stress injuries. I personally have struggled in the past with tendonitis and bursitis. I am going to explain to you the causes, the types of injuries, and how prevent and treat repetitive-stress injuries.

Way before you feel the pain, many people don't realize what they are doing to cause a repetitive-stress injury. Quite simply, it happens when you repeatedly perform the same action over and over. Many people don't realize how many times a day they do something. I like to swim competitively, so I train daily, so I can get better each and every day. After awhile I noticed my shoulder hurt not only during practice, but while I was sleeping and doing daily activities. I traced my injury back to the pool where I did thousands of strokes each day that contributed to my injury. I had to reevaluate my stroke technique, my pre-swim routine, and my after-swim routine to assure myself the pain would go away. Just like my thousands of strokes each day, many people can get a repetitive-stress injury from running, typing, lifting, or even just doing their every day job. Repetitive-stress injuries can affect anyone, but mostly people over the age of 30. Now let's take a look at the types of injuries.

Repetitive-stress injuries usually occur in tendons, and joints, but they could affect any part of your body. Tendonitis the most common injury is simply the inflammation of a tendon. Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa (Shoulder, Hip, Knee, Base of thumb, Achilles tendon, and Elbow are the most common places). Carpal Tunnel, Focal Dystonia, Intersection syndrome, and De Quervain syndrome are examples of repetitive-stress injuries related to the lower arm and hand. Now who cares about the names of the injuries, let's move on to the most important part how to treat and prevent these injuries.

Repetitive-stress injuries plague too many people and it's time for the best ways to treat and prevent these injuries. First, rest your injury until inflammation and swelling are reduced and then try to strengthen the muscles. For example, for my shoulder injury I used stretching band and did exercises before I got in the pool. Secondly, put ice on the injury to reduce the swelling, and pain, when it hurts. At first it may feel very uncomfortable, but trust me it will feel great in the matter of seconds. Third, use a heat pad to relax the tendon. Also try to reevaluate what you are doing that causes the injury. Make sure you have good technique and posture at whatever you are doing. Just always remember if you don't do anything to try and prevent or treat an injury it will never go away.

Now let's go back and recap everything you read. Repetitive-stress injuries are caused because of overuse of a muscle or tendon. Tendonitis and Bursitis are the most common repetitive-stress injuries. Be sure to stretch and/or strengthen the muscle or tendon to try and prevent the injury. Make sure you have good posture and technique for whatever is causing the injury. Ice and heat can be applied to injury to help the pain go away. If you want the pain to go away bad enough, you will do whatever is in your power to make it go away. Trust me, it feels sensational to be pain free.

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