Many people in Pennsylvania work in jobs that require them to repeat a certain motion with their hands or other parts of their bodies. Over time, these activities may contribute to the development of special types of injuries commonly referred to as repetitive strain injuries or repetitive stress injuries.
As explained by Healthline, some workers might be at a higher risk of developing a repetitive strain injury. These include grocery store checkers, assembly line workers or people whose jobs involve extensive use of a keyboard and mouse with little to no break in the work day.
According to WebMD, three of the most common types of repetitive stress injuries are bursitis, tenosynovitis and tendonitis. A bursa is a type of sac between a bone and tendon that is meant to provide cushioning to avoid undue stress or friction during movement. If this sac becomes inflamed, it may signal bursitis. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition associated with tenosynovitis in the wrist area when the sheath through which tendons run becomes aggravated and inflamed. Tendons hold muscles to the bones and when they become agitated, they inflame, causing tendonitis.
All three of these conditions may cause people to experience varying levels of discomfort or even severe pain that can radiate. An affected area may become weakened and even numb at times. Sensitivity to temperatures and stiffness in the region can also be some signs of a repetitive stress injury. Without proper treatment and therapy, these conditions can worsen, making it important that workers get the right medical help when they experience these problems.