Dr. Pascarelli's Complete Guide to Repetitive Strain Injury: What You Need to Know About RSI and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Cover......Page 1
Contents......Page 12
Foreword......Page 14
Preface......Page 18
Acknowledgments......Page 20
Introduction......Page 22
RSI by Other Names......Page 24
What Causes RSI?......Page 25
What RSI Isn’t......Page 26
1. Understanding RSI......Page 30
Basic Anatomy......Page 31
Anatomy Is Not Always Destiny......Page 40
What Your Examination Is Likely to Reveal......Page 41
2. Getting the Diagnosis......Page 48
What Your Physician Should Be Looking For......Page 49
The Physical Examination......Page 54
Tests......Page 60
Profiles of Injury: The Significant Findings in RSI......Page 66
Pronator Teres Muscle Syndrome......Page 73
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome......Page 74
Radial Tunnel Syndrome......Page 75
Cervical Nerve Root Compression......Page 76
Fibromyalgia......Page 81
Thrombophlebitis in Computer Users: “Economy Class Syndrome”......Page 84
Getting the Diagnosis Right......Page 85
3. RSI and Your Emotions......Page 90
Anxiety Disorders......Page 91
Depression......Page 95
4. RSI and Your Eyes......Page 98
Computer Vision Syndrome......Page 99
Choosing the Right Visual Tools......Page 102
Serious Eye Problems......Page 105
5. Managing Pain......Page 108
Treatment of RSD/CRPS......Page 112
Self-Treatment......Page 113
Acupuncture and Acupressure......Page 114
Local Injections of Corticosteroids and Anesthetics......Page 115
Splints......Page 116
Drug Treatment of Acute Pain......Page 117
Conventional NSAIDs......Page 118
Gastroprotective NSAIDs......Page 119
Muscle Relaxants......Page 121
Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Home Exercises......Page 125
6. Your Lower Back......Page 126
Defining Low Back Pain......Page 127
Treatment of Acute Low Back Pain......Page 129
Surgery for Back Pain......Page 130
7. Physical and Occupational Therapy for RSI......Page 132
Finding Treatment......Page 133
Why You Need Your Exercise Program......Page 134
Wall angels......Page 135
The UBE (Upper Body Ergometer)......Page 136
Bodyblade......Page 137
Stretches......Page 138
Wrist flexor stretches......Page 139
Physioball/Resist-a-ball exercises......Page 140
Strengthening Exercises......Page 141
Side-lying whole arm raises (perform on both sides)......Page 142
“V” exercises (Sitting or Standing Shoulder Abduction)......Page 143
Latissimus dorsi pull-downs......Page 144
Abdominal exercises......Page 145
Supinator pronator exercises......Page 146
Hand intrinsics with putty......Page 147
Manual Therapy: Soft-Tissue Work for RSI......Page 148
Other Treatment Techniques......Page 149
8. Ergonomics: Making Your Equipment Fit......Page 152
Ergonomics at the Worksite......Page 153
Chairs......Page 154
Desks......Page 156
Computer Keyboards......Page 157
Laptop Computers......Page 161
Computer Input Devices......Page 162
Other Computer-Related Ergonomic Factors......Page 165
An Ergonomic Equipment Checklist......Page 167
Where Are We Heading in Ergonomics?......Page 169
9. Biomechanics: Using Your Body......Page 170
A Dynamic Process......Page 171
Workstation Biomechanics......Page 172
Dorsiflexion or Wrist Extension......Page 173
Ulnar and radial deviation (windshield wiper wrists)......Page 175
The Carrying Angle at the Elbow......Page 176
Finger hyperextension......Page 177
Finger hyperflexion......Page 178
Kneading......Page 179
RSI and Kids......Page 180
“Yips” in Golfers......Page 182
10. At Home with RSI......Page 184
If You Live Alone......Page 185
The Telephone......Page 186
Sleeping......Page 187
Reading......Page 188
In the Kitchen......Page 189
Driving......Page 190
11. Getting Back to Work......Page 192
Back to Work......Page 196
The Case of Dr. M......Page 198
Are You Ready to Return?......Page 199
The Difficult Activities......Page 200
The Functional Capacity Evaluation......Page 201
12. RSI and Musicians......Page 204
Which Musicians Get Injured?......Page 205
The Ergonomics of Musical Instruments......Page 207
Piano, Harpsichord, Organ......Page 209
Fifty Injured Pianists: A Research Project......Page 210
Violin......Page 211
Viola......Page 212
Double Bass......Page 213
Percussion......Page 214
Flute......Page 215
Clarinet, Oboe, French Horn, Trumpet, and Bassoon......Page 219
Problems in the Orchestra......Page 220
13. Other Causes of RSI......Page 222
RSI in Garment Workers......Page 224
Injuries among Dental Practitioners and Dental Surgeons......Page 225
Sign Language Interpreters......Page 227
14. Beating RSI: A Five-Step Protection Plan......Page 230
Step 2: Get a Physical Evaluation......Page 231
Step 3. Plan Prevention and Cure......Page 232
Step 4: Pay Attention to Ergonomics......Page 233
Step 5: Work the Health Care System......Page 234
Glossary......Page 236
Further Reading......Page 246
Internet Resources......Page 252
General Scientific References on RSI......Page 254
Index......Page 260