Turn to Physical Therapy for Treating Repetitive Strain Injuries
Repetitive strain injuries have become increasingly common and affect individuals across a wide range of occupations. These injuries occur when muscles, nerves, or tendons are overused or misused, leading to pain, weakness, or numbness in the affected areas. They can be caused by work-related activities, including everything from typing on a keyboard to playing a musical instrument. Successfully treating repetitive strain injuries involves a combination of education, physical therapy interventions, and activity modification.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at two very different outcomes of repetitive strain injuries – one who sought treatment with physical therapy and one who didn’t.
The Importance of Treating Repetitive Strain Injuries with Proactive Interventions
Repetitive strain injuries are a group of conditions caused by repetitive motion or overuse of a particular part of the body. They are characterized by pain, swelling, or discomfort in muscles, nerves, and tendons.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: Numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and arm caused by pressure on the median nerve in the wrist.
- Tennis elbow: Overuse of the arm, forearm, and hand muscles, resulting in inflammation of the tendons that join the forearm and muscles on the outside of the elbow.
- Rotator cuff tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendons in the rotator cuff of the shoulder, causing pain and reduced mobility.
Poor postural awareness, insufficient breaks and rest during activity, and occupational hazards are all common risk factors for developing a repetitive strain injury.
Diagnosing repetitive strain injuries involves a thorough examination by our physical therapists at Alpine Physical Therapy and Sports Performance. They may use a variety of techniques, including patient history, physical exams, and sometimes imaging tests to identify the specific condition. Early diagnosis is key to preventing further injury and facilitating a faster recovery.
Case Study: The Impact of Physical Therapy
- With Physical Therapy: A graphic designer began experiencing wrist pain and numbness after long hours of work without adequate breaks. He recognized the symptoms early and was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome.
He was referred to our clinic because we have extensive experience treating repetitive strain injuries like his. We used a combination of techniques to alleviate pain and discomfort, and recommended job-specific ergonomic workplace modifications. These treatments alleviated his symptoms and taught him how to prevent future injuries. - Without Physical Therapy: We also treated an accountant who developed carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged periods of typing during the busy tax season. She, however, chose to ignore her symptoms in favor of hoping they would resolve on their own. Over time, her condition worsened, leading to severe pain and reduced hand function.
Without the benefits of early physical therapy or any proactive measures, her condition required surgical intervention. Even after surgery, she faced a recovery period and had to learn to manage residual symptoms that could have been mitigated with earlier treatment.
Treating repetitive strain injuries involves a multifaceted approach, including modifying or avoiding the activities that provoke the condition, physical therapy, and ergonomic adjustments. Physical therapy, in particular, plays a pivotal role in the recovery process by offering personalized exercises and strategies to strengthen, improve mobility, and reduce pain in the affected area.
Physical Therapy Interventions with Alpine Physical Therapy and Sports Performance
Our physical therapists will address your symptoms and tackle the underlying causes of your injury to promote long-term health and prevent recurrence. We’ll develop a personalized program to address the specific causes and symptoms of your injury. Education is a foundational part of physical therapy, so we’ll equip you with the information and training you need to make the proper adjustments to your workplace setting.
Give us a call today to break the cycle with proactive steps to treat your repetitive strain injury.
