Research Paper 1

REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURIES IN YOUTH

Scott Smith

Research Paper 2 Abstract This is a research paper describin the a!!ects o! Repetiti"e Stress In#$r% on the Yo$th o! America& The paper e'p(ores in"o("ement in )or*+ sports and comp$ter $se o! %o$ths and into ad$(thood& There are a(so se"era( )a%s to pre"ent s$ch in#$r% inc($din some s$pport ro$ps&

Research Paper , Repetitive Strain Injuries in Youth Repetiti"e strain in#$ries -RSI. ha"e p(a $ed %o$ths !or man% %ears& A repetiti"e strain in#$r% is simp(% /de!ined as a c$m$(ati"e tra$ma disorder -0T1. stemmin !rom pro(on ed repetiti"e+ !orce!$( or a)*)ard & & & mo"ements2 -Pascare((i and 3$i(ter+ 1445+ p&,.& Pop$(ar names !or disorders s$ch as 6itt(e 6ea $e e(bo) and nintendinitis7 o"er$se in#$r% o! the th$mb !rom p(a%in "ideo ames on a Nintendo87betra% the a e o! the a!!ected pop$(ation9 these terms a(so indicate that RSI res$(ts !rom st$dents: acti"ities at home and in sports& Un!ort$nate(%+ RSI ma% a(so increasin (% ta*e p(ace at schoo( and at )or*& It is+ there!ore+ an important topic to consider in promptin st$dent hea(th& This paper )i(( co"er repetiti"e strain in#$ries in the ;<12 a e pop$(ation as it re(ates to ed$cators and the need to pro"ide hea(th ed$cation s$pportin Hea(th% Peop(e 2=1= oa(s and ob#ecti"es& Hea(th% habits !or schoo(+ home+ sports+ and )or* )i(( be addressed& RSI is a common hea(th concern+ re ard(ess o! c$(t$re+ race+ se'+ nationa( ori in+ etc& Repetiti"e Strain In#$ries are a hea(th concern re(atin to the Hea(th% Peop(e 2=1= oa( to increase >$a(it% and %ears o! hea(th% (i!e !or o$r citi?ens& Accordin to research b% ;idd+ @c0o% and Steenber en p$b(ished in the Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners+ /repetiti"e strain in#$ries are disorders that in"o("e the ner"es+ tendons+ (i aments+ m$sc(es+ #oints or s$pportin str$ct$res o! the bod%& The% are reported as pain !rom strains+ in!(ammations+ irritations+ stress !ract$res+ and sprains b$t do not inc($de in#$ries res$(tin !rom ac$te tra$ma2 -2===.& The three ca$ses o! RSI are /-1. norma( stress to norma( tiss$e+ -2. abnorma( stress to norma( tiss$e+ and -,. norma(

Research Paper 5 stress to norma( tiss$e that is a(read% !ati $ed or does not ha"e s$!!icient reco"er% time bet)een episodes o! e'pos$re2 -;idd+ @c0o% and Steenber en+ 2===.& Repetiti"e strain in#$ries+ s$ch as carpa( t$nne( s%ndrome+ are o!ten tho$ ht o! as ad$(t in#$ries& Indeed+ the inc$rred cost o! RSI is ca(c$(ated thro$ h )or*ers compensation c(aims+ and most o! the U&S& )or*!orce is ad$(ts& At the nationa( (e"e(+ /One in e"er% three )or*ersA compensation do((ars pa%s !or RSIs& In a((+ ins$rers a)arded an estimated 2&B, mi((ion )or*ersA compensation c(aims !or RSIs in 144,+ costin emp(o%ers more than C2= bi((ion2 -Reich+ 144D.& Ho)e"er+ ado(escents do and increasin (% participate in acti"ities )hich ma% p$t them at ris* !or RSI& Ado(escents )or* more ho$rs than in pre"io$s enerations+ are in"o("ed in man% or ani?ed sports+ and $ti(i?e comp$ters !or both schoo( and p(a%& EhatAs more+ ado(escents: ro)in and de"e(opin bodies are partic$(ar(% s$sceptib(e to RSI& Immat$re m$sc$(os*e(eta( s%stems are "$(nerab(e to abnorma( stress !rom carr%in (oads e'ceedin their ph%sica( capacities& Ado(escent ro)th sp$rts be in )ith bone ro)th+ (ea"in ti ht m$sc(es prone to o"er$se in#$r% and p$((in bones o$t o! proper a(i nment& @$sc(e e(on ation then precedes (i ament ro)th+ ca$sin (i ament ti htness& Fro)th p(ates+ ro)th carti(a e and the /apoph%ses Gsite )here the tendons and m$sc(es attach to the boneH are o!ten in"o("ed in %o$th RSIs2 -;idd+ @c0o% and Steenber en+ 2===.& The ;<12 period is a time )hen man% habits are !ormed and (i!e s*i((s are ta$ ht& Ado(escents need to be a)are o! the ris* !actors !or RSI and need to de"e(op hea(th% )or*+ ath(etic+ and comp$ter habits )hen the% are %o$n &

Research Paper I

Work Related Risks Ado(escents )or* o$t o! the home more than in pre"io$s enerations+ and that )or* is more (i*e(% to re>$ire repetiti"e tas*s& In the United States+ the a"era e 1I<%ear< o(d )or*s 1B ho$rs per )ee*+ and the a"era e %o$th 1D<1B %ears o(d )or*s 21 ho$rs a )ee* -;idd+ @c0o% and Steenber en+ 2===.& Retai(+ ser"ice+ and !ast !ood #obs a(( emp(o% man% %o$ths !or part<time and s$mmer )or* and a(so a(( re>$ire repetiti"e tas*s& The !ast !ood ind$str% /emp(o%s more teena ers than an% other se ment o! the (abor mar*et2 -Ibid&.& A ric$(t$ra( )or* a(so in"o("es repetiti"e tas*s& Thro$ ho$t American histor%+ chi(dren o! !armers ha"e been re>$ired to )or* on !ami(% !arms be innin at a %o$n a e& These Jt%pica( teena er #obs: a(( re>$ire repetiti"e motions at a !ast pace !or an e'tended d$ration& K$rther+ accordin to researchers ;idd+ @c0o% and Steenber en+ /se"era( !actors p(ace %o$n )or*ers at ris*+ inc($din the $se o! e>$ipment desi ned !or ad$(t bod% proportions+ !ati $e+ de"e(opmenta( di!!erences in si?e+ as )e(( as ph%sica( and emotiona( mat$rit%+ e'perience+ #$d ement+ and the desire to be treated as an ad$(t2 -2===.&

Sports-Related Risks Ath(etic hobbies are reat !or chi(dren and ad$(ts and promote an o"era(( hea(th% (i!est%(e& Recent trends ha"e introd$ced man% %o$th to competiti"e or ani?ed sports at %o$n a es& It is important to be a)are o! the sports<re(ated ris*s !or RSI& 0ompetiti"e sports !re>$ent(% train and stress speci!ic m$sc(e ro$ps+ (i aments+ bones+ etc& And contact sports e'pose ado(escents to dramatic ph%sica( shoc*s& A dan er !or ado(escents

Research Paper D is that /the immat$re m$sc$(os*e(eta( s%stem is (ess ab(e to cope )ith s$ch repetiti"e biomechanica( stress+ and ado(escents are especia((% prone to o"er$se in#$ries d$rin their ro)th sp$rt2 -;idd+ @c0o% and Steenber en+ 2===.& In addition+ the !oc$sed trainin does not promote !ree p(a% or cross trainin )hich a((o) the bod% to e'perience man% !orms o! e'ercise and strain& 0ross trainin and !ree p(a% a(so a((o) the bod% to reco"er !rom the $ni>$e ri ors o! one acti"it% )hi(e the person remains ph%sica((% acti"e in di!!erent sports& The t)o sides o! the coin are o"er$se in#$ries o! e'treme(% !it ath(etes and the /too m$ch too soon2 in#$ries o! $n!it peop(e& Either )a%+ ado(escents are prone to these sports<re(ated RSIs )hich inc($de /b$rsitis+ tendonitis+ apoph%sitis o! tendon insertions+ stress !ract$res o! (on bonesLosteochondra( in#$ries o! the #oint s$r!aceLGandH traction apoph%sitis Gd$bbed 6itt(e 6ea $e e(bo) )hen it occ$rs at the e(bo)H2 -;idd+ @c0o% and Steenber en+ 2===.&

Computer-Related Risks Er onomics specia(ist 0her%( Mennett+ )ho )or*s !or 6a)rence 6i"ermore Nationa( 6aboratories in Mer*e(e%+ 0a(i!ornia has stated+ NEe *no) that ad$(ts )ho ha"e started )or*in )ith comp$ters o"er the (ast 2= %ears ha"e de"e(oped a (ot o! repetiti"e in#$ries& Ee donAt *no) )hatAs oin to happen to *ids o"er 2= %ears 7 the h$man race hasnAt been thro$ h this be!ore& Yo$n er bodies are more !or i"in + b$t co$(d it (ead to serio$s disabi(itiesON -@cFrane+ 2==1.& Simi(ar(%+ 1r& A(an Hed e+ a desi n and en"ironmenta( ana(%sis pro!essor at 0orne(( Uni"ersit%+ )ho has been (oo*in at the er onomic impact o! comp$ters on

Research Paper B chi(dren+ indicates that RSI prob(ems in %o$th and ad$(ts )i(( on(% et )orse as comp$ter $se increases in schoo(& 1r& Hed e statedP I! %o$ are oin to $se this techno(o % in schoo(s+ %o$ need to teach chi(dren ho) to $se it& At the moment+ comp$ters are thro)n on an% !(at s$r!ace+ and %o$Are s$pposed to )or* an% )a% %o$ can& ItAs creatin "er% bad habits& Ehi(e there is a (imited base o! *no)(ed e abo$t chi(dren and comp$ters+ there are no st$dies comin o$t sa%in thereAs no prob(em& In ad$(ts+ thereAs a (atenc% o! $p to 1= %ears& M$t i! %o$ start at 1=+ )hat happensO EeA"e ot the !irst eneration o! co((e e st$dents )ho ha"e had the opport$nit% to ro) $p )ith comp$ters+ and thereAs a mar*ed chan e& ItAs #$st horrendo$s to see a 14<%ear<o(d )ith carpa( t$nne(& Ehen the% mass<comp$teri?e schoo(s 7 a comp$ter on e"er% des* 7 the% need to ma*e s$re itAs the ri ht des*& Other)ise+ %o$A(( see the same prob(ems )e see in ad$(ts -@cFrane+ 2==1.& A$stra(ian researcher 6eon Stra*er !o$nd that the comp$ter stations in schoo(s )ere er onomica((% bad !or the st$dents& His st$d% o! three A$stra(ian schoo(s !o$nd that D= percent o! st$dents a ed 1= to 1B /comp(ained o! nec* or (o)er<bac* pain2 -@cFrane+ 2==1.& Research done b% 0orne(( rad st$dent Sha)n Oats !o$nd that /near(% !ort% percent o! the third<to<!i!th rade st$dents $sed Gcomp$terH )or*stations that p$t them at post$ra( ris*+ o!ten )ith monitors and *e%boards that are too hi h !or them& Seat com!ort )as a(so an iss$e !or these chi(dren2 -Re$ters Hea(th+ 1444.& The schoo(s had one si?e seat $ti(i?ed b% st$dents o! "ar%in hei ht& Some st$dents co$(d not sit )ith their !eet to$chin the ro$nd and compensated b% sittin too !ar !or)ard+ ca$sin poor post$re and possib(e in#$r% to bac*s and (e s I ha"e >$oted here man% doctors and researchers )ho see a potentia( !or a bi prob(em )ith st$dents )ho ro) $p )ith hea"% comp$ter $se& Spea*in !rom m% o)n e'perience+ I had t%pin c(asses in midd(e and hi h schoo(+ %et neither o! these c(asses addressed er onomic and hea(th needs re(ated to t%pin & The emphasis )as on speed and

Research Paper Q acc$rac%+ not on t%pin hea(th& I a ree )ith 1r& Hed e o! 0orne((+ )ho stated+ /I! %o$ are oin to $se this techno(o % in schoo(s+ %o$ need to teach chi(dren ho) to $se it2 -@cFrane+ 2==1.&

Integrating RSI Awareness into M Subject Area I )i(( be a socia( st$dies teacher at the hi h schoo( (e"e(& The c$rric$($m )o$(d not speci!ica((% co"er o$t o! schoo( )or* or comp$ter arran ements+ or ath(etics& Ho)e"er+ I thin* there are se"era( )a%s that I can incorporate hea(th content into m% (essons and acti"ities& Some c(assrooms in m% area ha"e a comp$ter in the c(assroom )hi(e other schoo(s are e>$ipped )ith comp$ter (abs& In the case o! a comp$ter in the c(assroom+ I )o$(d ha"e simp(e and ine'pensi"e so($tions to chan e the d%namics o! the )or* station -a pi((o) !or the chair+ a ream o! paper to chan e mo$se or *e%board hei ht+ etc&.& I )o$(d a(so post a dia ram o! ood post$re at the comp$ter station& An e'amp(e o! ood post$re can be !o$nd at httpPRRer o&h$man&corne((&ed$R& I! I ha"e the opport$nit% to $se a comp$ter (ab+ I )o$(d spend a part o! each c(ass period re"ie)in ood post$re and t%pin techni>$es& I )o$(d a(so b$i(d brea*s and

stretchin into the str$ct$re o! the (esson time in the comp$ter (ab& As !ar as sports+ I can co"er a re(ated O(%mpic ames and ta(* abo$t the re(ati"e hea(th% ba(ance needed b% the ath(etes& No do$bt there )i(( be stories that I can sho) m% st$dents o! ath(etes bein in#$red and the disappointment the% !ace dea(in )ith pain& There )i(( a(so be stories o! reat cross trained ath(etes and those that ha"e a "ariet% o! ath(etic hobbies&

Research Paper 4 Conclusion St$dents are increasin (% acti"e in the )or* !orce+ )ith competiti"e sports and )ith comp$ters and techno(o %& These are bi components o! an ado(escent:s (i!e and the% are a(( ood acti"ities& @an% peop(e !orm their (i!e(on habits d$rin their ado(escent %ears& It is important that )e ed$cators teach o$r st$dents hea(th% habits )hich protect them !rom repetiti"e strain in#$ries&

Support and In!ormation "roups East Ma% Repetiti"e Strain In#$r% S$pport Fro$p East Ma% RSI S$pport Fro$p 1552A Ea(n$t Street+ S 11, Mer*e(e%+ 0A 45B=4 I1=<5DD<IQ15 httpPRRrsi&meet$p&comR2R 0orne(( Uni"ersit% Er onomics Eeb 1epartment o! 1esi n and En"ironmenta( Ana(%sis at 0orne(( Uni"ersit% @VR Ha((+ Korest Home 1ri"e Ithaca+ NY 15QI,<55=1+ USA PhoneP D=B<2II<14IB httpPRRer o&h$man&corne((&ed$R Presents in!ormation !rom research st$dies and c(ass )or* inc($din $ides )ith pict$res !or *eepin *ids hea(th%+ schoo( er onomics pro rams+ chi(dren:s comp$ter $se+ /Er o0omics 5 ;ids+2 $ide(ines !or parents+ and m$ch more& Job Accommodation Net)or* PO Mo' D=Q= @or anto)n+ EV 2DI=D<D=Q= Q==<I2D<B2,5 httpPRR)))&#an&)"$&ed$R A !ree cons$(tin ser"ice desi ned to increase the emp(o%abi(it% o! peop(e )ith disabi(ities b%P 1. pro"idin indi"id$a(i?ed )or*site accommodations so($tions+ 2. pro"idin technica( assistance re ardin the A1A and other disabi(it% re(ated (e is(ation+ and ,. ed$catin ca((ers abo$t se(!<emp(o%ment options&

Research Paper 1= Re!erences Hea(th% Peop(e 2=1= retrie"ed A$ $st 11+ 2==Q !rom httpPRR)))&hea(th%peop(e& o"Rde!a$(t&htm ;idd+ P& @c0o%+ 0 T Steenber en 6& -October 2===.& Repetitive Strain Injuries in Youth+ Jo$rna( o! the American Academ% o! N$rse Practitioners+ "o( 12+ n$mber 1=+ p& 512<524 @ee*s+ 6&+ Heit+ P&+ T Pa e+ R& -2==4.& Comprehensive school health education: totally awesome strate ies for teachin health! -Dth ed.& Ne) Yor*+ NYP @cFra)<Hi((& @cFrane+ S& -Jan$ar% 5+ 2==1.& Creatin a "eneration of Slouchers& The Ne) Yor* Times& Retrie"ed on A$ $st 21+ 2==Q !rom httpPRR)))&n%times&comR2==1R=1R=5Rhea(thR=5ERFO&htm(O e'U12145D5===TenU1QBbID,Q!a5!c==QTeiUI=B= Pascare((i+ E& T 3$i(ter+ 1& -1445.& Repetitive Strain Injury: A Computer #ser$s "uide+ Ne) Yor*P John Ei(e% T Sons Reich+ R& -144D.& Preventin Repetitive Stress Injuries& Retrie"ed on A$ $st 22+ 2==Q !rom httpPRR)))&osha& o"Rp(sRosha)ebRo)adisp&sho)Vdoc$mentO pVtab(eUSPEE0HESTpVidU2=D Re$ters Hea(th -1444. Computers %ay Cause Posture Pro&lems In Children& Retrie"ed on A$ $st 21+ 2==Q !rom httpPRR)))&persona(md&comRne)sRa1444=21I=5&shtm(