Question: What is a Repetitive Stress Disorder?
Answer: A repetitive stress disorder is an injury to a part of the body that is caused by overusing or exerting to much stress on that body part.
Stress 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 stressing cause damage.
The term repetitive stress disorder identifies a large group of conditions that result from using the body in a way it is not designed for or capable of comfortably working.
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 stress can be an injury.
Some common examples of repetitive stress disorders are:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Tennis Elbow
- Trigger Finger
- Blackberry Thumb
- Vibration White Finger
- Shin Splints
- Calluses
- Bunyan
The full list of what can be classified as a repetitive stress disorder is quite extensive.
Other terms used interchangeably with Repetitive Stress Disorder are:
- Repetitive stress injury (RSI)
- Repetitive strain injury (RSI)
- Repetitive strain disorder (RSD)
- Repetitive motion injury (RMI)
- Repetitive motion disorder (RMD)
- Repetitive injury
- Overuse syndrome
- Cumulative trauma disorder (CTD)
- Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD)
