News Room

MEDICAL MINUTE^©
from the Texas Back Institute

Daily Routines may be the Cause of the Pain of the Future

Do you feel tightness or burning in your joints? Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with a piercing pain in your hands, wrists, forearms or elbows? If so, you might be suffering from what is known as a repetitive strain injury. Repetitive strain injuries are the result of doing more than the body can handle. Repeated physical movements performed on a daily basis damage tendons, nerves, muscles and other soft body tissues, resulting in what may be a repetitive strain injury. The omnipresence of computers in today's world is also a significant contributor to repetitive strain injuries. In severe cases, repetitive strain injury can prohibit individuals from simple tasks such as driving a car, getting dressed or carrying groceries.

"Repetitive strain injuries are simply the result of overuse," said Darran Marlow, D.C., a chiropractor with Texas Back Institute. "When this happens, the joints are unable to heal because muscle fibers continue to tear and are unable to provide ample support."

To decrease your chances of repetitive strain injuries:

• Monitor your posture while at the keyboard. Your wrists should never rest on anything while you are typing. Instead your arms should move your hands around. In addition, your wrists should remain straight and level with your arms not bent up or down. When you feel the tendency to rest your hands on the keyboard, take a few moments to place you hands in your lap or at your side.
• Remember to hold the mouse lightly, don't grip it hard or squeeze it. Don't strive to type the fastest and be sure to quit or limit playing computer games. In addition, be sure to place the mouse pointer close to the keyboard where you don't have to reach too far, and always keep your hands and fingers warm. Cold muscles and tendons increase your chances of repeatedly injuring yourself.
• Many individuals have the tendency to tuck the phone between their shoulders while typing on the computer. This aggravates the neck, shoulders and arms greatly and must be avoided. Try using the speakerphone as an alternative.

Repetitive strain injuries vary from person to person and can follow an individual for a great deal of time. While some of these rules may feel awkward for a while, they are the key to preventing much inflicted pain in the future.

Texas Back Institute: Texas Back Institute (TBI) is the largest freestanding spine specialty clinic in the United States. The Institute, based in Plano, Texas, was established 27 years ago and provides comprehensive medical care for individuals with back and neck pain. TBI is a back care leader specializing in spinal arthroplasty and minimally invasive spine surgery. As an academic health care organization, TBI has trained hundreds of physicians, scientists and allied health professionals. Its research institution employs state-of-the art technology and research to treat patients and is involved in the most clinical trials of artificial discs. TBI's professional staff includes board-certified spine surgeons, general surgeons, internists, chiropractors, physiatrists, pain specialists, exercise physiologists and a team of physical and occupational therapists. Texas Back Institute's offices are located in Plano, Denton, Fort Worth, Greenville, Garland, Hurst, Midland, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona. For more information visit www.texasback.com

MEDIA CONTACT
For more information, contact Meredith Falke, (214) 891-7795 meredith_falke@richards.com

Consumer phone number: 1-800-247-BACK