OVERUSE INJURIES

Overuse injuries are caused by repeated movements and are sometimes called repetitive stress or cumulative trauma disorders. These movements result in small injuries that heal quickly by themselves. When the injuries happen again and again, the body cannot always keep up with the healing process. These are not acute injuries that happen once, like a broken bone or a torn ligament. Repeated movements cause wear and tear on the muscles, tendons, bones, and nerves of the body. This damage can result in temporary or permanent medical problems.

Some common overuse injuries are:

tendonitis
tennis elbow
arthritis
carpal tunnel syndrome and
low back strain

Overuse injuries can happen at work or at play. They often happen in sports when a new sport or activity is started, when an athlete tries to do too much too soon, or when the same movement is repeated over a long period of time. There are several factors that may cause an overuse injury. In sports, the most common cause is not training properly.

Other factors leading to overuse injuries may include poor body mechanics, limited flexibility, or an old injury. Using the wrong type of equipment or equipment in bad condition may also lead to injuries.

In work situations, factors that may cause an overuse injury include the amount of effort, discomfort, difficulty, or fatigue involved in a job. Jobs that require continuous hammering or driving of screws are common causes of overuse injuries. Using vibrating tools like a jackhammer can also cause these injuries.

The symptoms of an overuse injury may start slowly with tenderness or pain over the area injured. Making the movement necessary for a sport or work may cause pain. An example of this is shin splints that cause pain when running. Occasionally there may be swelling or slight redness.

The treatment is the same for any overuse injury. It starts with rest of the affected area. If a runner has shin splints walking might be allowed, but not running. A non-weight-bearing sport like swimming might be allowed while the runner is resting the leg. Cloth covered ice packs may be put on the area for 20 minutes 4 to 8 times a day. Aspirin or medicines that have aspirin in them should not be given to anyone younger than 18 years of age. Taking aspirin is a risk for a serious illness called Reye's syndrome. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be taken with food or milk to prevent stomach upset. NSAIDs should be avoided by anyone who has been diagnosed with asthma, ulcer disease, or a bleeding disorder. Taking NSAIDs increases the risk of bleeding with trauma, dental work, surgery, or if taking blood thinners (anticoagulants).

A healthcare provider should be seen to rule out a more serious condition. The provider may suggest exercises that can be done to strengthen the area involved. A physical therapist may need to be seen for special exercises, or for advice on the correct way to do exercises.

Most overuse injuries can be prevented. Correct training and common sense are important. Using the correct technique with gradual increases in time, difficulty, and frequency of training helps to prevent injuries. It is important for trainers, coaches, and teachers to be aware of and enforce the right training techniques. An occupational therapist can visit the work place to suggest ways to lessen the chance of an overuse injury. Even slight changes may prevent an injury.

To avoid overuse injuries, balance the factors you cannot change with healthy work and play habits:

exercise daily
take regular breaks throughout the day to stretch and relieve tired working muscles
rotate repetitive activities with non-stressful, non-repetitive activities
examine your workstation to see if you can do away with any physical stresses
do not smoke and
drink plenty of fluids throughout the day

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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