Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) are conditions caused by placing too much stress on a joint, and they vary in type and severity. Most RSIs are linked to the stress of repetitive motions at the computer or overuse injuries in sports. RSI in kids may occur from heavy computer or video game use, playing musical instruments, or the repetitive motion of sports like tennis.
An RSI occurs when stress is placed on a joint, pulling on the tendons and muscles around the joint. When the stress occurs repeatedly, the body does not have time to recover and becomes irritated. The body reacts to the irritation by increasing the amount of fluid in that area to reduce the stress placed on the tendon or muscle.
Conditions that are the result of RSIs include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: swelling inside a narrow "tunnel" formed by bone and ligament in the wrist; the tunnel surrounds nerves that conduct sensory and motor impulses to and from the hand, leading to pain, tingling, and numbness
- Cervical radiculopathy: disk compression in the neck, often caused by repetitive cradling of a phone on the shoulder
- Epicondylitis: elbow soreness often known as "tennis elbow"
- Ganglion cyst: swelling or lump in the wrist resulting from jelly-like substance that has leaked from a joint or tendon sheath
- Reflex sympathetic dystrophy: a condition characterized by dry, swollen hands and loss of muscle control; consistently painful
- Tendonitis: tearing and inflammation of tendons connecting bones to muscles
Fortunately, only a small percentage of kids have RSI. You can help prevent RSI by taking preventive measures and redesigning your home computer environment.
source:kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/ergonomics.html
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