International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day

International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day (RSI Awareness Day), is celebrated the last day of February every year since 2000.

Some facts about International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day

Every year, on the last day of February, International Repetitive Stress Injury Awareness Day aims to educate the public about repetitive stress injuries. This is also the day when healthcare professionals help their patients learn how to prevent this type of serious injury.

Repeated stress injuries are exactly what they sound like. This type of injury occurs when a certain part of the body is damaged by repetitive movements or over activity. An example of a repetitive strain injury is carpal tunnel syndrome. People who type a lot or use a mouse on a computer are prone to this type of injury.

Common stress injuries

Other common repetitive stress injuries include:

• Tendonitis
• Elbow injury
• Bursitis
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Herniated disc
• Hand muscle dystonia
• Nerve pain

Symptoms associated with repetitive stress injuries include pain, stiffness, throbbing, tingling, weakness, and cramping. People who do jobs that repeat the same motion several times a day are more likely to develop repetitive stress injuries. In the United States alone, repetitive stress injuries affect nearly 2 million workers each year. People with these types of injuries may need to take time off work and receive appropriate treatment.

In many cases, repetitive stress injuries qualify for workers' compensation. In the United States, costs for repetitive stress injuries are up to $20 billion/year. In some cases, repetitive stress injuries in the workplace are caused by poor ergonomics. Workers who do not take recommended breaks are also at risk for repetitive stress injuries.

People with symptoms of a repetitive stress injury should not try to work through the pain or ignore it altogether because working will only make the injury become worse. Workers and others with this type of injury must be diagnosed and treated appropriately immediately.

History of International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day

Although occupational injuries involving muscles, nerves, and tendons may not be life-threatening, they can certainly be life-changing. They can change everything. They can rob workers of mobility and dignity. Workers are often unable to care for themselves or people they love.

This is a difficult reality for many people. Year after year, work-related repetitive stress injuries (RSI), also commonly known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), account for more than 40% of time-lapse injuries (LTIs) authorized by the Ontario Workplace Safety & Insurance Commission (WSIB) - the single largest claim category. Many others though were never reported or denied. These injuries are suffered by workers in all fields.

According to Statistics of Canada, this country has annually 2.3 million adults suffer from MSD severe enough to limit their normal activities; and the majority of these injuries are caused by work-related activities. In addition to the social, costs about emotional and economic to the individuals are the economic costs to all of us, amounting to $26 billion each year. Much of this paid, not by employers that operate unsafe workplaces, but by Canadian taxpayers through the health care and income support system for workers with injured persons and their families. The statistics and the painful experiences behind them demand solutions.

Catherine Fenech, founded the International Repetitive Stress Injury Awareness Day. She started the first event in 2000 and chose February 29 as the only non-repeating date on the calendar. In non-leap years, events are held on February 28 to help focus on creating awareness and promoting preventive action – both in the workplace and through interventions.

How to celebrate International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day

On this day, employers, medical professionals, and occupational health and safety organizations hold informational seminars, webinars, and workshops to educate the public about stress injuries. They also share information through memos, social media posts, and websites about how to prevent these types of injuries.

To join:

• Educate yourself about the different types of repetitive stress injuries.
• Make sure your workstation has the right ergonomics.
• Talk to your employer about ways to prevent repetitive stress injuries in the workplace.

When sharing information on social media about International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day or RSI Awareness Day, do not forget using the hashtag including #RepetitveStrainInjuryAwarenessDay or #RSIAwarenessDay.