REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY (RSI)

Managing Repetitive Load, Recovery and Capacity

movement control around the shoulder blade is poor
thoracic (upper back) stiffness increases shoulder load
neck contribution is overlooked
strength exists, but endurance and coordination do not
return-to-load is rushed

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is a broad term describing pain and dysfunction resulting from repeated movements, sustained positions and insufficient recovery. It commonly affects the hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, shoulders and neck, and is frequently associated with desk work, manual tasks, gaming, music and sport.

At London Osteopathy & Pilates, RSI is approached as a load and capacity issue, rather than a single structural injury.

Why RSI Develops

RSI typically develops when:

Symptoms often build gradually and may fluctuate with workload.

Common RSI Presentations

Patients commonly report:

wrist or forearm ache during or after work
hand fatigue or weakness
elbow pain with repetitive tasks
shoulder or neck tension associated with arm use
symptoms that improve with rest but return quickly

Assessment — Looking Beyond the Painful Area

1) Task analysis

We examine:

2) Physical examination

Includes assessment of:

3) Movement strategy

We assess whether symptoms are driven by:

Treatment and Rehabilitation

Osteopathic care

Used to:

Rehabilitation

Focuses on:

Why “Stopping Everything” Rarely Works

Complete rest often:

A graded, structured approach is usually more effective.

Long-Term Outcomes

The goal is:

David Canevaro : 07904 153486

davidcanevaro@hotmail.com