A Glossary of Common RSI Terminology
Here are definitions of some of the more common terms associated with
Repetitive Strain Injury.
- Bursitis
-
-
A bursa is a small fluid-filled sac located between movable parts
of the body, especially at the joints. Its function is to decrease the
friction between two surfaces. Bursitis is an inflammation
of a bursa. The swelling increases fricition, and movement becomes
pained and irritating. Repetitive movement or prolonged excessive pressure
can cause bursitis.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
-
-
The Carpal Tunnel is a narrow passage between the bones at the
bottom of your wrist through which nerves, arteries, and tendons pass.
If the lining of the carpal tunnel becomes irritated due to excessive
finger and up-down wrist movements, it swells causing pressure on
the median nerve. This can cause numbness, tingling, loss of grip power,
and a tendency to drop objects. Fortunately only a minority of RSI cases
involve carpal tunnel syndrome.
- CTS
-
-
See Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
- CTD
-
- Cumulative Trauma Disorder.
Another name for RSI.
- De Quervain's Disease
-
-
This is a special name given to tenosynovitis
at the base of the thumb. This can be caused by too tight a grip on a
mouse, or by repetitively hitting the space bar with the thumb with excessive force.
- Dorsiflexion
- Bending your wrist upwards, rather like a policeman stopping traffic.
This will happen if you type with your
wrist leaning on the desk or if your keyboard is at the wrong height.
See RSI Prevention Tips for
an illustration.
- Ganglion Cysts
-
-
A Ganglion Cyst is a small bump or mass that forms underneath the skin,
often at the wrist or finger joints. They are formed when the tissue
surrounding a joint swells up with lubricating fluid. They can swell
up when the joint is irritated. Often they are harmless, and may
disappear on their own if the source of irritation is removed.
However, they may sometimes be associated with pain or tenderness
and restriction of movement. Overuse of fingers
and wrists may give rise to ganglion cysts.
- Hiirikyynärpää
- Finnish term for computer-related RSI. Literally Mouse Elbow.
- Mausarm
- German term for computer-related RSI. Literally Mouse Arm.
- MSD
- Musculoskeletal Disorder .
- Muisarm
- Dutch term for computer-related RSI. Literally Mouse Arm.
- Musarm
- Swedish term for computer-related RSI. Literally Mouse Arm.
- Museskade
- Danish term for computer-related RSI. Literally Mouse Injury.
- Museskade
- Norwegian term for computer-related RSI. Literally Mouse Sickness.
- Neutral Wrist Position
- Position in which the wrist is neither bent to one side, nor
bent up or down.
See RSI Prevention Tips for
an illustration.
- OOS
- Occupational Overuse Syndrome. Another name for RSI.
The primary term for RSI in New Zealand.
- Phalen's Test
- Test frequently used in the diagnosis of
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
The patient holds both hands together in a praying position, but
with the backs of the hands rather than the palms of the
hands touching each other. This position contorts the carpal
tunnel, and mildly pinching the median nerve. If, after a minute,
the patient starts to
feel tingling in the thumb, index, or middle finger, it
suggests the possibility of carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Radial Deviation
- Bending your wrist towards your thumb. (The Radius is the bone in
your arm on the same side as your thumb).
See RSI Prevention Tips for
an illustration.
- Radial Tunnel Syndrome
-
This problem is caused by the radial nerve becoming compressed or
entrapped at the outside of the elbow. Symptoms can occur at the
elbow where the nerve is trapped, near the base of the thumb, or
anywhere in between.
- RMD
- Repetitive Motion Disorder.
An alternative term and slightly more general term for RSI.
- RMI
- Repetitive Motion Injury.
An alternative term and slightly more general term for RSI.
- RSI
-
- Repetitive Strain Injury. A musculoskeletal injury resulting from prolonged
repetitive, forceful, or awkward movements. This includes
conditions such as tendinitis,
bursitis, ganglion cyst,
tenosynovitis, trigger finger,
and
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).
Frequently (but not exclusively) refers to
computer-related RSI from keyboard or mouse use, but can also refer
to other injuries (such as back pain) caused by repetitive work tasks.
RSI is a serious problem, and in an increasing number of jurisdictions
employers are under a legal obligation to minimize the risk of employees
developing RSI. See the Employer's RSI FAQ for
more details.
- Repetitive Strain Injury
-
-
See RSI.
- Repetitive Stress Injury
-
-
Common mistyping of Repetitive Strain Injury.
In physics, stress is force per unit area, and strain is the proportion
of its length by which an object deforms under the effect of stress.
- Tendinitis
-
-
Tendinitis is inflammation of the tendons.
Tendinitis occurs frequently in the shoulders, elbows, and forearms. If an
aching pain is not associated with any specific muscle, it is often caused
by tendinitis. Tendinitis can also impair the grasping of objects.
- Tendon
-
-
Connective tissues that attach muscle to bone. They have very little stretch
or rebound. If stressed due to overuse or maintaining a stretch for an excessive
time they may get small tears. Friction from overuse may also result in inflammation.
This condition is known as Tendinitis.
- Tendonitis
-
-
Common mispelling of Tendinitis.
- Tenosynovitis
-
-
Where tendons curve round bones and change directions, they pass through
tendon sheaths. Irritation caused by the rubbing of the tendon and the
sheath is known as Tenosynovitis.
- TMS
-
Troubles Musculo-Squelettiques. French term for RSI.
- Trigger Finger
-
An irritation of the digital sheath
that surrounds the flexor tendons of the finger. The sheath becomes thickened
or swollen, preventing the tendon form gliding smoothly. Sometimes the
tendon may catch then suddenly release, leading to an effect rather like
the sudden movement when a trigger is released.
- Ulnar Deviation
- Bending your wrist towards your little finger (the Ulnar is a bone
on the same side of the arm as your little finger).
See RSI Prevention Tips for
an illustration.
- WRULDS
- Work-Related Upper Limb Disorder. Another name for RSI.
- WMSD
- Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders.
A term used by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety for RSI.
- WRMSD
- Alternative acronym for WMSD for Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders.
An alternative term for RSI.
- WRULD
- Work Related Upper Limb Disorder.
Have we missed a key term? Is one of our definitions inaccurate?
Please let our
us
know.
This glossary courtesy of Albion StopNow!,
the discreet RSI break reminder
tool for office (and home) use.
References
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