Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is a form of injury affecting the nervous and musculoskeletal systems brought about by the repeated movement of a certain body part. It is also known as repetitive stress injury, repetitive motion injuries, repetitive motion disorder (RMD), overuse syndrome, cumulative trauma disorder, occupational overuse syndrome, and regional musculoskeletal disorder.
Repetitive tasks especially those of manual labor workers, vibrations, forceful physical exertions, mechanical compression, and sustained or prolonged awkward positions contribute to the development of repetitive strain injury. The condition develops not just in workplaces but in daily home life as well due to disregard for proper posture and ergonomics.
Common signs of RSI include short bursts of severe pain in the extremities and body (back and shoulders), notable worsening of pain while doing a particular repetitive activity, and weakness or lack of endurance.
The term "repetitive strain injury" (RSI) is generally considered as an umbrella term for various conditions for which no discrete, objective pathophysiology can be used to identify a certain pain complaint. Carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, stenosing tenosynovitis/trigger finger/thumb, Golfer's elbow, intersection syndrome, and DeQuervain's syndrome can be considered as RSIs.