Question: What is a Repetitive Injury?
Answer: A repetitive injury is an injury to a part of the body that is caused by repeatedly overusing or exerting to much strain on that body part.
Strain occurs when the body part is called on to work harder, stretch farther, impact more directly or otherwise function at a greater level then it is prepared for. The immediate impact may be minute, but when it occurs repeatedly the constant straining cause damage.
The term repetitive injury identifies a large group of conditions that result from using the body in a repetitious way and causing injury by the amount it is done.
These conditions are often focused on a joint and usually affect the muscle, bone, tendon or bursa of the joint. However other anatomical features and areas can be stressed and their response to that strain can be an injury.
Some common examples of repetitive injuries are:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Tennis Elbow
- Trigger Finger
- Blackberry Thumb
The full list of what can be classified as a repetitive injury is quite extensive.
Other terms used interchangeably with Repetitive Injury are:
- Repetitive stress injury (RSI)
- Repetitive stress disorder (RSD)
- Repetitive strain injury (RSI)
- Repetitive strain disorder (RSD)
- Repetitive strain disorder (RMD)
- Repetitive motion injury (RMI)
- Overuse syndrome
- Cumulative trauma disorder (CTD)
- Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD)
