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Throbbing pain, stiffness, feelings of numbness and general weakness are all classic symptoms of RSI (repetitive strain injury). It’s the repetitive part that is key in this terminology. ‘RSI is a catchall term,’ explains physiotherapist Sammy Margo. ‘It means the overuse of muscles, nerves and ligaments associated with small repetitive movements over several hours without a break.
‘It’s also known as work-related upper limb disorder (WRULD). Though it can occur in many professions, it’s become more common in the office workplace, with the increased use of laptops, tablets and smartphones. As a result, ‘the areas most commonly affected are wrist/fingers, elbow/forearm and neck and shoulders.’