Dr. Venkata Ramana Rao B.P.T., P.G Dip.(Acu), C.I.E (Sweden) R S I Specialist (Myotherapist & Ergonomist) Stop pain, before I T stops you K E E P S E M P L O Y E E S H E A L T H Y & P R O D U C T I V E Health Care R S I

Why This Subject ?

How many of you heard about R S I ?

Why you should be aware of R S I ? R S I ?

C o m p u t e r U s e r s a r e P r o n e t o d e v e l o p R S I

Re p e t i t i v e St r a i n In j u r i e s

O t h e r N a m e s for R S I ► Work Related Upper Limb Disorder (WHO) ► Occupational Overused Syndrome (NZ) ► Cumulative Trauma Disorder (USA) ► Computer Related Injury (CRI)

R S I F a c t s & F i g u r e s ► OSHA estimate over 700,000 RSI’s occur every year ► 15-25% of computer users throughout the world may have estimated R S I (Source - BBC) have estimated R S I (Source - BBC) ► 3 out of 5 office workers in Sweden have symptoms of R S I ► Every day 6 people in UK leave their jobs due to an R S I (Source - TUC) (Source - TUC)

D i d y o u k n o w ? ► 75% of Indian Computer Users report pain/numbness ► Over 30 young Indian IT/ITES Professionals have lost their jobs because of advanced R S I ► 55% of Indian Computer Users got injured within a year of starting their first job

W h y & H o w ?

Repetition of job tasks Too much Stress MusclesTendonsNerves Other soft Tissues O n Causes Leads to R S I

T y p e s & C a u s e s of R S I

C a r p a l T u n n e l S y n d r o m e

C a u s e s.. Wrist Posture

Contact Stress Contact Stress

B a c k P r o b l e m s

C a u s e s.. ► Poor Strength ► Poor Postures ► Poor Body Mechanics

T h o r a c i c O u t l e t S y n d r o m e

C a u s e s.. ► Cradling Telephone ► Awkward postures

T e n d i n i t i s & T e n o s y n o v i t i s

C a u s e s.. Extended Arm

Poor Alignment

N e c k Strain & Tension H e a d a c h e s

C a u s e s.. Neck Posture

R o o t C a u s e s of R S I ► Poor body mechanics ► Poor Work habits ► Inappropriate Workstation Setup

S y m p t o m s of R S I ► Pain & Discomfort ► Unusual sensations like Tingling, Burning, and Numbness. and Numbness. ► Decreased ROM / Flexibility ► Muscle weakness, loss of grip strength

S t a g e s of R S I

S t a g e 1 S t a g e 1 S t a g e 2 S t a g e 2 S t a g e 3 S t a g e 3

S t a g e 3 ► Pain and discomfort ► Heaviness ► Pins - needles sensation ► Numbness ► It even disturbs sleep ► Muscle weakness

W h a t n o t t o D o ► Ignore or deny you have a problem ► Take pain killers Cures the symptoms not the problem Cures the symptoms not the problem Long term effects Long term effects ► Join a gym or start weight training ► Undergo vigorous oil massages ► Take a vacation hoping the pain will go away with rest

W h a t t o D o ► Seek Professional Medical help ► Meet Right Specialist for Right Solution

T r e a t m e n t

RXRX ► Ergonomics ► Myotherapy ► Physiotherapy ► Acupuncture

Prevention is better than Cure

How can you Prevent R S I ?

► Proper Workstation Setup ► Postural Training ► Good Work habits

Workstation Workstation

P o s t u r a l T r a i n i n g P o s t u r a l T r a i n i n g ► Neck Posture ► Sitting Posture ► Typing Posture ► Use of Mouse Ideal

W o r k H a b i t s ► Take rest breaks ► Practice good body mechanics ► Exercise at work – Stretch !

S t r e t c h e s

Strengthening Exercises

R S I may be worse than you think P r e v e n t it before it causes permanent D a m a g e

T h a n k Y o u R S I Health Care