Repetition Takes a Toll on Our Bodies

Repetitive, or overuse, stress injuries, are caused by repetitive stresses being applied to an area of the body that can’t handle the load. The stress is too much or the body part is too weak. The tissues then begin to breakdown causing injury. These injuries cause the body to produce inflammation at the injury site, followed by dense scar tissue and adhesions. Symptoms may include a decreased range of motion (ROM), loss of strength and pain, as well as numbness and tingling.Computer work is a common culprit for these types of injuries and factory work day in and day out can be too much for certain joints or tissues to take. Any joint or tissue in the body can be involved in overuse injuries. This is especially true with sports: the knees and shins are common areas with running; the shoulders are vulnerable with swimming and baseball; and the elbows are most commonly injured with golf and racket sports.Training errors are a common cause for athletes. Doing too much, too soon is a sure-fire way to injure an area that is not ready for the added stress. Increasing frequency, duration or intensity can all cause a negative reaction when training or when changing jobs. Other training errors include neglecting a weak area instead of working toward a balance. Running on the same side of the road all the time can cause an imbalance in hips and knees due to the slant of the road. In the workplace it may be as simple as using the same hand to control the mouse or sitting in a worn chair. Having your work station set up ergonomically correct can help with prevent this.Another reason for injury is equipment errors. In sports, this may include having a bicycle that is not proportional to your body type. The most common equipment error would be poorly suited or poorly fitted shoes. A cross training shoe should not be worn for long-distance running and a basketball shoe should not be used for tennis. These shoes were designed for specific purposes and should be used as such and fitted correctly.Initial treatment of overuse injuries should include the RICE formula; Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. This should minimize the inflammatory response in the acute phase. The stressor that caused the injury in the first place should be avoided while the tissues heal. A visit to our office can also reduce symptoms and speed recovery. A balance in your system will reduce the likelihood of the damaged tissue becoming chronic.