RSI Help with Deborah Quilter

Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization can be helpful for RSI. Dr. Nik Vizniak talks about how it works.

We all have heard that sitting is the new smoking, but is standing at work really safer? Learn the surprising facts from Turner Osler, MD, before you make a switch. Dr. Osler will take your calls.

Most people hate their chairs – with good reason. Standard office seating can lead to everything from back pain to neck, shoulder and arm injuries. But there is something you can do about this. We will speak with Turner Osler MD, a trauma surgeon from Burlington, Vermont, who will discuss the inherent problems of sitting, how we can counteract this and present his revolutionary concept in dynamic seating, the QOR360.

This seated breathing lesson will help you sit and stand taller.

According to a report by the National Toxicology Program ,  exposure to cell phone radio frequency radiation can be harmful. Dr. Erik Peper, professor at the Institute for holistic health studies at San Francisco State University explains why it's not a good idea to put your phone in your pocket or your bra – or even keep it close to your ear.

What you should know about pharmaceutical drugs that can damage soft tissue. Hand Surgeon Robert Markison, MD, explain how commonly-prescribed medications can damage tendons. Some of this damage can't be undone. Don't miss this important episode of RSIHelp radio!

Your wrist may be aching, but don't assume that the cause is carpal tunnel syndrome. And don't assume that your doctor will necessarily diagnose you properly. San Francisco Bay area hand surgeon Robert Markison, M.D., a top expert in RSI, discusses several common wrist maladies including de Quervain's disease, ganglion cysts, tendinitis and ulnar tunnel syndrome. He also discusses the anatomy of the wrist, and what doctors should be looking for if a patient presents with wrist pain. PLUS: Why vitamin D helps, how technology hurts, and much more.  

Eyestrain is one of the most common problems associated with computer use is eyestrain, which is also known as “computer vision syndrome” or “digital eyestrain.” Symptoms can include eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, dry or burning eyes and neck and shoulder pain. These symptoms may be caused by poor lighting, glare and improper viewing distance for posture, and uncorrected vision problems.  Deborah answers a letter from a listener about this issue.  

Sitting properly is one of the most important factors in preventing RSI and back pain. Here's a brief lesson from Ruthy Alon to get yourself on the right track

San Francisco hand surgeon Robert Markison, MD, gives us a rundown of the most common common ways that the nerves becomes injured, the symptoms of this injury, how they are treated -- and that all-important question: Why do nerve injuries take so long to heal?  

Most people never think about the body unless something goes wrong with it. This seems to be especially common with the hand – and a certain digit in the hand, the thumb. What could possibly go wrong? But ask anybody who has injured their thumb and prepare for a laundry list of all the things that it does for you: it gives you a power grip, the ability to open jars and doorknobs. And if it’s not working properly – it can lead to a world of problems. Today we’re going to hear from Dr. Robert Markison,  Clinical Professor of  Surgery at the University of California San Francisco. Dr. Markison will explain why the thumb is so at risk for injuries -- and how we can protect them!

Tendinitis is one of the most common manifestations of repetitive strain injury, and anyone who has experienced it knows how debilitating it can be. They also know how quickly you can reinjure yourself and what it’s like to cope with a chronic case of tendinitis. Today we are going to speak with Lee Buckler, who is the CEO of RepliCel Life Sciences, a Canadian-based company that is working on a product that will use your body’s own stem cells to heal tendon injuries. While the commercial product must meet government regulations and is still in the study stage, being able to have this treatment is still years away, I think you will find it quite fascinating to learn how this works – and why it could be such a boon to people with RSI.  

Many people approach flexibility the wrong way by forcing a greater range of motion than is comfortable. Not only is this painful, it could also lead to injuries such as ruptured discs, torn muscles and ligaments.  If you feel so tight that bending forward is difficult, try this brief (and easy) lesson to loosen your spine. You'll be amazed at how quickly you will feel loose, and there's absolutely no stretching or pain involved!

Meet your scalenes! These are tiny muscles located on the side of your neck. Who would think they could cause so much trouble in your upper back, arms and hands?  Learn how to increase your scalene mobility in the short lesson.

Chronic neck pain is one of the top complaints among computer users. In fact, many repetitive strain injuries stem from neck tension. Today we’re going to learn a short neck release that can be enormously useful in rotating the upper spine. This can help with common activities such as looking over your shoulder while you’re driving or just turning your head from side to side. In future episodes, we will learn ways to improve the other functions of the neck; flexion and extension (this is basically looking down and looking up) and lateral flexion (tilting your head to the side). When you are doing this lesson, please don’t do anything that hurts. Let the movement be as easy as possible by not using effort to achieve it. It doesn’t matter how far you go; what matters is the ease of the movement.

Laura Miner has had repetitive strain injury since 1991. Here she shares with listeners what she wishes she had known then.

Maybe you’re sitting at your desk right now and you’re experiencing some pain for a while, so you have decided that it’s finally time to get that new chair or an economic keyboard or a sit/stand desk. You invite the ergonomics consultant in, spend a bundle on new products – maybe your new chair is a little more comfortable than your old one, but your pain isn't gone. What happened? You thought, as many people do, that having the right equipment solve your problems and banish your pain. And you are very surprised to learn that it didn’t really work the way you hoped it would.  

If you have problems with your hands, and you're looking for a new career, maybe you should consider voiceovers. To tell us about creating a new career as a voiceover artist, we have invited the brilliant teacher and New York City casting director Andy Roth. Andy will explain all the ins and outs of breaking into the voiceover industry to create your new career. Here's a chance to get your information straight from the horse's mouth!

Many people hear that yoga can be very healing – and it can, but when it comes to RSI you have to be extremely careful in your practice. Leslie Kaminoff, a yoga educator with over three decades' experience in the fields of yoga, breath and anatomy, talks about why the hand is vulnerable in many yoga poses.  Leslie teaches in the tradition of T.K.V. Desikachar, and is the founder of The Breathing Project, a New York City-based educational non-profit dedicated to teaching individualized, breath-centered yoga. He is the co-author, with Amy Matthews, of the best-selling book “Yoga Anatomy.”    

  Intro: Have you ever wished that there was some way that you could make yourself comfortable sitting in a chair? Have you ever wished that you could find a way to release the constant tension in your neck or eyes? How about releasing the ever-present pain in your shoulder? What if you could feel better in minutes after following a series of simple, gentle movements? Too good to be true? Actually, all of this can happen, and here to tell us how is Larry Goldfarb

If you are injured working for an employer, you will become part of the Worker's Compensation system and you will need to know what your rights are under this system. Jordan Ziegler of Pasternak Tilker, Ziegler, Walsh, Stanton & Romano, a law firm with over 80 years of experience treating injured workers tells you what you need to know about Workers' Compensation In New York State.

Dr. George Piligian, an expert in this field, explains what you need to know about soft tissue injuries.

Learn how the Feldenkrais Method can help people with RSI reduce pain and regain function. San Francisco-based Feldenkrais practitioner Cliff Smyth explains.

Michael discussed the feelings that typically arise when people are first diagnosed with repetitive strain injury and how to cope with those emotions. He also talks about transforming powerlessness into progress by becoming your own advocate.

San Francisco surgeon Robert Markison MD puts repetitive strain injury in a historical, anatomical and evolutionary perspective, and explains why the tools we use put us at risk for injury. These episodes are not intended as medical advice. Consult your personal physician. For more information visit RSIhelp.com