The Internet site www.alternativemedicine.com checked up on natural therapies for repetitive stress injury (RSI) in a recent report. Here’s what was recommended for the estimated 40 million Americans spending too much time on computer keyboards or performing some other repetitive task to the point of abuse and overuse.
Yoga: Recent medical studies at the University of Pennsylvania and Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles have shown that people with carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive stress injuries benefited from yoga poses, reporting less pain.
Massage: Cumulative stress and strain often respond well to massage because it improves circulation to the area and relaxes and lengthens muscles. Massage can also help break long-standing body habits that strain the skeletal or muscular systems.
Posture and movement: A number of practices can help you become more aware of how you create imbalances — either physically or mentally — that become stressors. Tai chi is a martial arts system of relaxed movement that follows the energetic meridians of traditional Chinese medicine to improve healing. Feldenkrais method consists of performing specific movements to discover whether your approach to them is harsh or painful, and how to correct them. In Alexander technique, the practitioner guides and adjusts the body movements.
Nutritional supplements: Some studies show that vitamin B6 deficiency may be associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. The B vitamins, as well as vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and zinc, support nerve and muscle function. Be careful not to take any dose of B vitamins larger than government-recommended amounts without consulting a health practitioner.
Positive attitude: A study published in the British Medical Journal showed that people who reported symptoms of RSI also tended to experience dissatisfaction with their co-workers or with the level of support that they received from supervisors or colleagues. Psychological distress and general anxiety also correlated with reports of pain. Since any stress leads to the body’s burden, finding ways to reduce stress in the workplace is an important key to healing.