RSI (WMSD) is not a single condition. Instead it should be regarded as an umbrella term with many quite different conditions under it. All the conditions listed below are forms of RSI (WMSD) (note that they are not necessarily caused by repetition though - see explanation).

Common Names

• writer's cramp
• washer woman's wrist
• fisher woman's finger
• scrivener's palsy
• tennis / golfer's elbow
• trigger finger
• telegraphers wrist

Medical Names

Localised inflammations

Compression syndromes

Pain syndromes

Trigger finger de Quevian's tenosynovitis tenosynovitis epicondylitis rotator cuff syndrome bursitis cervicothoracic dysfunction postural syndromes muscle strain

carpel tunnel syndrome thoracic outlet syndrome radial / ulnar nerve compression

Chronic pain syndrome myofascial syndromes fybromyalgia regional pain syndrome complex regional pain sydrome reflex sympathetic dystrophy

These are taken from New Zealand ACC publication Prevention of Occupational Overuse Syndrome - A handbook for co-ordinators of workplace WMSD prevention programmes (ISBN 0-478-10246-1)

If you have any questions or comments on this information you are welcome to contact us with them.