Who’s at risk for RSI

As I was preparing to write this blog I found this one that addresses the issue quite well, and I wasn’t going to write this at all. But in reading some other things I came up with a few additional comments that I’d like to add to it, but I recommend reading (Putting RSI in Perspective — Who’s at Risk?) first.

In her blog she lists a few vocations, and points out that most vocations are at risk for RSI. That really is the truth. In just about everything that we do there is risk. If you compiled a list of all the scary media stories out there you’d find that just about everything can cause cancer, and everything you do could kill you, but doing nothing could kill you too. It’s important when discussing who is at risk to remember that life is worth living, and we should not stop that which we enjoy or that which supports us merely because there is risk.

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising everytime we fall.”- Nelson Mandella

So, yes, YOU are at risk of getting a repetitive stress/strain injury, if you don’t already have one. Most people will injure themselves in this way at some point. In fact, though most people don’t realize it most back aches are RSIs. Probably the most common cause for people to visit the chiropractor is facet syndrome (sprain/strain) due to repetitive stress. We use the joints in our back more than any other joint in our body they are constantly under stress, and if one of those joints is not moving properly over and over again, the body will try to compensate, but unless the dysfunction is addressed you guessed it, RSI!

Chiropractors just like medical doctors tend to get into a niche of treatment. Myself I’m in the niches of pregnant patients and performance artists. I see the upper back and elbow RSIs of violinists, trumpeters, and other musicians. I see the lower back RSIs of dancers, and artists. Just like any other chiropractor I can usually treat anything that walks through my door, but if you’ve had a longstanding condition that you just haven’t been able to rid yourself of you may want to seek out someone with experience. It can be hard to find the right one, because we don’t “specialize” in any particular treatment it’s just what we usually see more of. Ask around and you’ll find the right doc for you. Beyond special cases most chiropractors will be able to treat any RSI you have. The musculoskeletal and nervous systems, after all, are what our training focuses on.

So, if you’re wondering who’s at risk, it’s you. Don’t quit your job or stop playing golf, just be aware, and treat your body with the respect it deserves. I’ll tell you some things you can do to prevent RSIs in my next post. Just be warned, most of it you already know, you’ve just been too lazy to do.