Facts about repetitive strain injury, wrist pain and upper back pain in the workplace

Upper and lower back pain, wrist pain, sore shoulder muscles, stiff neck, finger pain, headaches, eyestrain, Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), and buttock and thigh muscle aches are just some of the more common complaints resulting from long hours at  computer work stations. If allowed to progress without treatment, these aches and pains can turn into a serious condition known as Repetitive Strain Injury, or RSI.

 

RSI is not limited to computer users and may be the result of other repetitive activities which can result in the related conditions: Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS), Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CDT), and  Work Related Upper Limb Disorders (WRUD).   "Computer Injuries", sometimes referred to as "Keyboard Injuries" as well as these other RSI-related conditions, often lead to serious health consequences and significantly reduce productivity.

A survey conducted by the Data Entry Management Association (Bodek, 1990) sampled 514 operators and clerical employees from 31 data processing organizations. Data entry personnel reported the following incidence of health problems:

In a Report to Congressional Requesters (Worker protection - Private sector Ergonomics Programs Yield Positive Results - August 1997) the United States General Accounting Office (GAO) estimated private sector losses from Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI )at many billions of US dollars a year. Recent research publications indicate that the situation has become more acute in the last few years. 

 

These studies indicate that a proactive approach to preventing employee problems with RSI can contribute to a signficant reduction in employee time lost to medical treatment and also reduce workers' compensation claims.

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