Repetitive Stress Injuries
Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI), also called Repetitive Strain Disorder or Cumulative Trauma Disorder, is a disease of the musculoskeletal system. RSI results from repetitive motions, sustained posture, or both, and the gradually accumulating damage they cause. Although repetitive motion generally gets the most attention and greatest blame for RSI, it is not the only problem underlying that disease. While repeated movements cause wear and tear on tissues, it is the lack of mobility that keeps the blood supply away from the tissues, which reduces the rate of repair to those areas. As tendons, ligaments, and muscles become less flexible due to sustained postures, the blood flow becomes even more constricted. The immobile connective tissues can impinge on nerves, causing numbness, tingling, and long-term nerve damage.
Although recent decades have seen a striking increase in the number of reported cases of RSI, especially as computer usage increases, the disease is actually not a new phenomenon. In the 1700s, for instance, silversmiths reported wrist problems as a result of the repeated hand motions required for their trade. And RSI is not restricted to computer users. Any job or activity that requires repeating the same movements using the same focused parts of the body for extended periods of time can cause RSI. Examples of occupations affected include meat cutters, seamstresses, assembly-line workers, and even cooks.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, one type of RSI, relates to the eight bones in the wrist, called carpals, which form a tunnel-like structure. This tunnel is filled with flexor tendons that control finger movement. The carpal tunnel provides a pathway for the median nerve to reach the hand's sensory cells. Repeated motion and prolonged flexing and extension of the wrist can cause a thickening of the protective sheaths surrounding each of the tendons. These swollen tendon sheaths apply increased pressure to the median nerve and cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include pain and tingling or numbness of the thumb and fingers. If the pressure on the median nerve is relieved early enough, the symptoms disappear. If they are ignored, however, the pressure on the nerve can cause irreversible damage. Surgery may be required. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be avoided through the use of "ergonomic" computer workstations, which are designed to minimize the effects of prolonged computer use on the body; taking frequent breaks; and maintaining proper posture throughout the work day.
An employee may have the right to demand that his or her working conditions be modified in order to prevent RSI. If RSI has already resulted, the employee may have the right to request, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations so that he or she can continue working. If an employer is uncooperative, legal action may be required. Litigation involving RSI may be against the employer, or it may be against the manufacturer of the products that were poorly designed and led to the injury. In the latter case, the claim is called a products liability action.
In seeking an attorney to represent you in a products liability suit, be sure to investigate his or her background in products liability or personal injury law. Ask questions about the lawyer's track record, whether he or she usually represents plaintiffs or defendants in products liability suits, and what kind of litigation style he or she has. Make sure that you feel compatible with your attorney. As a team, you can achieve a result that will best serve your interests and compensate you for your losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, lost future earning potential, and damages for physical and emotional pain and suffering. Family members may also seek damages for the loss of their loved one's services and companionship, in appropriate cases. And sometimes even punitive damages, which go beyond what is required to compensate the injured party and are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct, may be awarded. Your attorney can tell you what to expect in your case.
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Repetitive Stress Injuries: Computer Workstation Checklist
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