RSI placing a strain on workplace
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* Tara S. Chauhan

In 2000/01, 10% of Canadians aged 20 or older reported having a repetitive strain injury (RSI) in the previous 12 months that was serious enough to limit their usual activities, the Canadian Community Health and the National Population Health surveys indicate.

![Figure1](http://www.cmaj.ca/https://www.cmaj.ca/content/cmaj/169/11/1203/F1.medium.gif)

[Figure1](http://www.cmaj.ca/content/169/11/1203/F1)

Figure. 

Of respondents reporting RSIs, 55% indicated that they had resulted from activities at work, while 20% cited sports or physical exercise as the source. Of those reporting an RSI, 25% indicated it was in their neck or shoulders, while 23% said the wrist or hand, 19% the upper or lower back, and 16% the elbow or lower arm.

Prevalence was highest among those aged 40 to 49 (13.1%) and lowest for those 70 years or older (3.3%). Men and women were equally likely to report an injury.

Prevalence was highest among those working in the processing, manufacturing and utilities fields, or in the trades, transport or equipment-operating sectors, where incidence rates were more than 13%. Those in the management category had the lowest rate, 10.1%.

Stress in the workplace appears to affect incidence rates, especially for women. Women who indicated that their work is “not at all/not very stressful” had a prevalence rate of 10.4%, compared with 18.4% for those whose work is “extremely stressful.” After controlling for other factors, work-related stress was not significantly associated with RSIs for men. For women, a relationship between incidence of RSIs and work-related stress remained after other factors were considered.

Stress levels outside work also affected RSI rates. Women whose lives were “not at all/not very stressful” had a 7.5% prevalence rate, whereas those who felt their lives were “extremely stressful” had a 17.5% rate. The rates for men were 7.3% and 14%, respectively. The relationship between life stress and RSIs continued to exist for both sexes, even after adjusting for other factors. — *Tara S. Chauhan*, Project Manager, Research, Policy and Planning, CMA