ortho doctor Archives - Eva Hospital

Office and Work – Understanding Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs)

February 25, 2021March 30, 2024
by Eva Hospital

You might think that office work is more of a mental job rather than a physical one. However, desk work strains muscles and joints that keep working in the same fashion throughout the day.

Occupational tasks tend to be monotonous and routine and involve the same set of movements repeatedly. It not only strains the concerned muscles and their related joints but is also capable of causing serious damage over a period of time.

Consequences can be an inability to continue with the same job and developing a serious disability.

What is RSI or Repetitive Stress Injury?

RSI is an injury or damage to muscles, tendons, and nerves resulting from repeated movements. Work-related repetitive stress injuries may be caused by a variety of continuous activities such as:

Operating a computer mouse
Typing on a keyboard or typewriter
Writing
Lifting or gripping items

Occupational muscle stress is also faced by musicians, cleaners, cooks, craftsmen, and drivers, etc

What Causes RSI?

RSI is caused by overuse as the name suggests. It is a by-product of repeating the same movements for hours on end. The overused muscles that face the brunt are those that are not strong enough and the postures are faulty. So what exactly are the risk factors?

Some activities that can increase the potential risk of injury are:

You remain in the same posture for hours
You use the same limb or hand all the time. For example, if your job requires you to make phone calls most of the time, you would be holding a phone constantly in one hand.
Your posture or positioning is wrong. For example, you are keeping the mouse at a higher level than your elbows.

Common Types of RSIs and Their Symptoms

The body parts that are most affected by office-related RSI include wrists, hands, elbows, forearms, shoulders, and neck. This may cause orthopedic conditions such as,

Bursitis

Tennis Elbow

Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Symptoms develop gradually and become persistent and more intense with time.

It is very important to recognize the symptoms and adopt preventive and primary measures to ensure that the condition does not become chronic and serious.

Here are the common symptoms that you will experience in the muscles that you are using repeatedly:

Pain
Stiffness
Weakness
Throbbing
Tenderness
Tingling or numbness
Throbbing
Heat or cold sensitivity

The pain and weakness become gradually severe, preventing you from performing routine tasks. You may find it difficult to type, handle the computer mouse or even write.

Treatment For RSI

Office-related RSI is fairly mild in the beginning and if addressed early, it can be controlled effectively at the onset.

The treatment is conservative and initially, doctors prescribe conventional medication and physical therapy.

Dr. Tanveer Bhutani, sports injury specialist and orthopedic surgeon at Eva Hospital says,” Maintaining a workout regime is vital. Office goers tend to ignore joint health while pursuing ambitious careers.

As a result, repetitive movements cause overuse injuries and damage all-around health. It is similar to sporting injuries. Relieving pain and strengthening the muscles is

the prime concern in RSI treatment.” Primary care consists of :

RICE treatment- rest, ice, compression, and elevation
Pain-relieving nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs
Exercise
Use of braces, bandages, or supporting devices to rest the muscles.
Steroid injections in severe cases
Physiotherapy
Workstation adjustments, e.g. your desk, chair, or other equipment.

Serious cases may require surgery to protect the joints from severe damage.

Tips for Preventing RSI

Do these standard adjustments in your way of working to make a world of difference:

Do not slouch. Maintain an erect posture. Back straight, shoulders squared and neck centered. It is the best way to protect your muscles from undue stress.

Adjust your workstation. The level and type of equipment at work should be supportive and comfortable. Align the elbow with the keyboard.

Refrain from sitting continually. Keep taking those breaks from sitting. Stand, walk and move about, at regular intervals.

Keep the monitor at eye level. You should not be looking down or up all the time. Keep the screen at an arm’s length away. If you make calls all the time, wear a headset.

Taking small breaks. Take frequent breaks throughout the day to stretch and flex your fingers and wrists. Take a walk, and do shoulder stretches. It is very important.

Conclusion

Little changes make a large difference in the prevention and recurrence of work-related repetitive stress injuries.

Knee Surgery

Post Care Tips – Arthoscopic Knee Surgery by Dr.…

September 13, 2019March 30, 2024
by Eva Hospital

Knee Surgery is synonymous with a new lease of life and renewed energy to resume work. For marking the surgery a complete success, the post-surgery instructions have to be adhered to carefully.

For relief from constant pain and stiffness due to bone damage or any deformity, the choice of knee surgery is the right option.

Coming back to the usual routine with full gusto may take about 4-6 weeks. For quick healing and recovery, the patient has to follow the discharge instructions coupled with the medicine instructions judiciously.

The health care experts and the surgeon will guide you on the exercise, rest, discharge equipment, and follow-up appointment.

A list of handy tips will help you recover without much struggle. The following list has been curated under the able aegis of Dr. Tanveer Bhutani, Punjab’s best ortho-surgeon

Exercise

Regular exercise regime must be carried on pre and post the surgery. The level of activity and exercise will be contingent on the age and status of the patient. The walk is usually the best exercise and the surgeon will guide you about the pace and distance of the walk. Gradually the patient can increase the momentum as the healing gets better. ‘Exercise is thy medicine. Muscle-strengthening exercises work in healing a patient faster.

Medications

The initial wounds must be thoroughly cleaned so that the chances of infection are decreased. To maintain suppleness, coconut oil can be externally applied. The patient will be administered antibiotics for some time so that no bacterial infection seeps in.

Pain killers and other medications will be discussed at length by the medical practitioner so that the chances of inflammation are minimized.

Body Posture

The regular walk must be carried on.

Also, strenuous workouts or fitness activities like swimming, cycling, badminton, golf, or any other activity which requires movement of the lower limbs is gradually started after 6-8 weeks.

Role of footwear

For successful knee surgery, the patient must wear comfortable, supportive, well-cushioned shoes outdoors. Heels or other fancy shoes are not advisable in the beginning.

Word of Caution

It is advisable to take care of a rugged surface so as to avoid any twisting or sudden jerk to the knee. Do not keep a pillow or any other object underneath the knee so as to avoid a permanent knee-bend. Stiffness and inflammation may take longer to settle in some patients than the others.

Make sure you are regular on the follow-ups so that the pace of healing can be monitored. Also, any untoward changes can be gauged when the patient is regular in the follow-up visits.

Dr. Tanveer Bhutani is the best knee surgeon in Punjab and he has won many accolades to his name in the recent past. His patient testimonials are a blend of his polite demeanor and professional acumen. The innumerable successful knee surgeries are a testimony to his proficiency and expertise.

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