Repetitive strain injury: an overview of the condition and its implications for occupational therapy practice

The incidence of occupationally induced upper extremity disorders, often referred to as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), has increased dramatically in the last decade. An overview of recently published literature is presented which discusses economic impact, etiology, and historical and sociopolitical factors influencing these conditions. A number of prospective studies which conceptualize RSI as a complex biopsychosocial phenomenon framed within a chronic pain model offer some insights into the importance of a multidisciplinary, multifactorial approach to treatment. Opportunities exist for occupational therapists to make a significant contribution to enhancing the health of the worker in the workplace through participation in a team approach to treatment and in health promotion through workplace education with a view to prevention.