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Common Diseases > Cumulative Trauma / Stress Disorders
Introduction
Stress
Anatomy
Diet
Prevention and Treatment
Surgery
Introduction
Occupational
Over Use OOS - Repetitive Strain
Injury RSI - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The painful
symptoms of Occupational Over Use,
OOS and Repetitive Strain Injury, RSI
are most common in the hands, arms,
shoulders and to an extent in the
upper back and neck. These
conditions, or syndromes, have been
the focus of much attention in the
last few years due to suggestions
that they may be linked to
occupations that require repetitive
use of the hands - such as typing and
packaging. They have been of
great concern to the Accident
Compensation Commission in New
Zealand as it has been struggling to
avoid a great many compensation
claims. In other countries, employers
are struggling to retain quality
staff who are forced to quit due to
these symptoms.
In reality
however, there are many people who
develop this condition - irregardless
of the type of work that they do due
to other stress factors.
The following
attempt to explain these conditions
and describe prevention and treatment
options.
Stress
This is perhaps
has the greatest negative effect on
the body. When the body is under
stress it produces a vast array of
chemicals that when not eliminated
quickly, create problems in the body
and compound existing ones.. We
conclude that these conditions are
compunded by stress.
Anatomy
The body parts
most directly affected are the
nerves, ligaments and tendons. It may
be easier to understand how this
occurs if you understand some of the
anatomy.
Essentially the
nerves and tendons run through a
supportive insulating tissue (much
like an electric cable, with several
wires passing through the plastic
sheath) and insulated with a soft
tissue called tenosynovium.
With small
range repetitive movement in the body
extremenities, several things happen:
- blood supply slows
- there is an insufficient transfer of nutrient energy to the affected cells
- due to a lack of energy cell pliability and function is reduced
- with the limited movement there is no elimination of toxins
- there is friction, which eventually causes inflammation.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (cts)
Is a painful
condition where the carpal tunnel
(which is an opening into the
hand that is made up of the bones of
the wrist on the bottom and the
transverse carpal ligament on the
top) becomes inflamed and
painful.
The carpal
tunnel carries the median nerve which
runs into the hand to supply
sensation to the thumb, first and
second index fingers, and half of the
ring finger. The nerve also
supplies a branch to the muscles of
the thumb, the thenar muscles which
help move the thumb and are very
important in moving the thumb so that
you can touch each of the other
fingers.
Any condition
(repetitive use and a build up of
toxins) which causes irritation or
inflammation of the tendons can
result in swelling and thickening of
the tenosynovium. As the
tenosynovium covering all of the
tendons begin to swell and thicken,
the pressure begins to increase in
the carpal tunnel - because the bones
and ligaments that make up the tunnel
are not able to stretch in response
to the swelling. Increased
pressure in the carpal tunnel begins
to squeeze the median nerve against
the transverse carpal ligament -
because the nerve is the softest
structure in the carpal tunnel.
Eventually, the
pressure reaches a point when the
nerve can no longer function
normally. Pain and numbness in
the affected part begins.
One of the
first symptoms of carpal tunnel
syndrome is numbness in the length of
the median nerve. This is
quickly followed by pain in the same
area. Pain may also travel up the arm
to the shoulder, and, sometimes the
neck. If the condition is
allowed to progress, weakness of the
thenar muscles can occur. This
results in an inability to bring the
thumb into opposition with the other
fingers and hinders one's grasp.
Different types
of arthritis can cause inflammation
of the tenosynovium directly as can a
fracture of the wrist bones which may
later cause cts if the healed
fragments result in abnormal
irritation on the flexor tendons.
Diet and Nutrition
Often over
looked, the diet eaten can have a
large influence on these conditions.
An acid diet heavy in processed foods
and meats with little or no fresh
veges and fruits can create an excess
acid environment in the body which
slows the metabolisim and
assimmilation of nutrients.
A more balanced
diet will provide better nutritional
support for prevention and - or
recovery.
Introduction | Stress |
Anatomy | Diet |
Prevention
and Treatment |
Surgery
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educational purposes only and not intended
to be used for any therapeutic purpose, neither is it intended to diagnose,
prevent, treat or cure any disease. Please consult a health care
professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.
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