Do you have RSI?

RSI is one of the most common reasons for a workers compensation claim in Australia. RSI stands for Repetitive Strain Injury and suffering an RSI can have serious consequences for the individual’s daily life, as well as their professional life. 

What is a Repetitive Strain Injury?

RSI is caused by repetitive movements. The repeated use of the same body movements can cause inflammation to parts of your body like muscles, nerves, tendons, etc. The motion doesn’t have to be strenuous or difficult for this injury to occur. Simply, over time, the cumulative effect of the repeated movement can have an effect on the body parts involved. The severity of an injury caused by RSI will depend on the duration over which the injury took place. This is particularly important when assessing injuries that occurred as a direct result of an individual’s employment. So what can cause RSI? Many factors can contribute to its development, including: 

  • Working with ill-fitting equipment,
  • Not leaving enough time to recover in your breaks,
  • Working too fast,
  • A lack of training, 
  • A lack of variety in the work you do,
  • Holding your muscles in the same position for extended periods,
  • Working in the cold.

Common Forms of RSI Injury

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome – occurs when the nerve that runs from the forearm to the palm of the hand is pressed or squeezed at the wrist. This can result in numbness, weakness, or pain in the hand and wrist. 
  • Tendinosis – is the degeneration of tendon tissue. It can involve some inflammation. It is a chronic and long-term condition. 
  • Tenosynovitis – is the inflammation of the fluid-filled area that surrounds the tension. Causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. 
  • Bursitis in the wrist, knee, elbow or shoulder – is a painful condition that affects the small, fluid-filled sacks that cushion bones, tendons, and muscles that are near your joints. This occurs when the sacks become inflamed. 
  • Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis – involves the muscles and tendons of your forearm that are responsible for the extension of your wrist and fingers. 
  • Cubital tunnel syndrome – is a condition that involves pressure or stretching of the ulnar nerve. This can cause numbness or tingling in the ring and small fingers, pain in the forearm, and weakness in the hand.
  • Ulnar tunnel syndrome – this occurs when the ulnar nerve is compressed at the wrist. It will cause numbness and tingling in the little finger and along the outside of the wring finger. It can also cause weakness in the hand pinch and grip. 
  • Trigger finger or trigger thumb – is a condition that causes pain, stiffness, and a sensation of locking or catching when you bend and straighten your finger or thumb.  

How is an RSI injury treated by WorkCover? 

If you are suffering from, or have suffered from an RSI at work then you may be eligible to make a workers compensation claim. Workers compensation claims for RSI is a complicated legal process. No two claims are ever quite the same, so the team at What’s My Claim Worth highly advise anyone that is looking to make a claim seeks legal assistance.