Personal injury can occur in a variety of circumstances. We might think of the home as a
relatively safe environment, and places of leisure such as sports grounds or pubs and
clubs as a little more risky, but what about work? Even relatively routine or sedentary work activities may also cause
injury. In fact an RSI claim resulting from inadequate procedures at work is one of the more frequent legal actions to be found in a personal injury solicitors workload.
If you are a worker subject to periods of muscular tension, or if you repeatedly carry
out the same physical tasks, then you should be aware and wary of repetitive strain injury. This is a painful
condition in which the muscles are kept in a state of tension—generally owed to poor
posture or repeated physical motions—that generally affects the muscles, tendons and
nerves of the upper body, especially the arms and the upper back. It is generic term, so
it covers a spread of different conditions which are specific to a variety of parts of the
body. Thoracic outlet syndrome, for example, affects the chest; trigger finger or trigger
thumb relates to the hand. If this condition is caused by activities carried out at work then it may, in certain circumstances, be possible to make an RSI claim against the employer for compensation.
What is the outlook for sufferers? As with all conditions of this form, prevention
is the best cure. Ask your employer if your workplace is ergonomically protected against
RSI, and try to maintain good posture. Frequently get up and walk around and stretch the
muscles under strain. Your employer should be able to help you: indeed they are under
obligations to safeguard the health and safety of their employees and the increasing
prevalence of an RSI claim should act as a good incentive!
The symptoms to watch out for include recurrent pain in the upper body: the back, the
shoulders, and the arms, hands and wrists. This pain may be associated with tingling and
numbness, and weakness in the muscles affected – endurance and strength are likely to
be compromised. Indeed one of the first symptoms of RSI is that one feels pain at night in
bed. Sufferers may simply think bad positioning has caused it, but if you experience
repeated discomfort be wary that it may be a sign of RSI.
But if you are suffering already there are options, and you should see your doctor or
occupational therapist for advice. Medicine that might be effective includes
pain-relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs. Soft tissue therapy works by decompressing the
area surrounding the RSI incidence, promoting circulation and natural healing. massage therapy can act to help the sufferer learn how to relax their muscles.
All of our compensation claims are dealt with using the no win no fee scheme and damages are paid in full. If you would like to speak to a specialist solicitor you can either use the 24/7 helpline or complete the form or just email us. If after talking to us you decide not to take matters further then you are under no obligation to do so and you will not be charged for our advice.
