C U M U L A 1 I V L 1 k A U M A D I S C k D L k S

CumulaLlve Lrauma syndrome" repeLlLlve sLraln ln[ury" and overuse syndrome" all
refer Lo Lerms LhaL have been used Lo descrlbe cumulaLlve Lrauma dlsorders 1hls condlLlon
usually develops over a perlod of Llme and can be found ln a varleLy of occupaLlons from
offlce workers Lo meaL cuLLers CumulaLlve 1rauma dlsorders are dlsorders of Lhe musculo
skeleLal and nervous sysLems C1us also referred Lo as 8epeLlLlve SLraln ln[urles (8Sl) can
occur ln many parLs of Lhe body such as wrlsLs elbows shoulders back neck hlps knees
and ankles
C o mm o n C a u s e s f o r C u m u | a t | v e 1 r a u m a D | s o r d e r s
Work relaLed and nonwork relaLed condlLlons can elLher lndlvldually or by lnLeracLlng
wlLh each oLher glve rlse Lo Lhese dlsorders Whlle Lhere can be many posslble causes
cumulaLlve L r a u m a d l s o r d e r s o f L e n a r l s e w h e n worksLaLlons equlpmenL or
Lools do noL flL Lhe worker uamage Lo Lhe muscles [olnLs or nerves can occur wlLhln a shorL
Llme or over an exLended perlod of Llme 1hese ln[urles normally occur ln Lhe hands wrlsLs
elbows and shoulders buL can also occur ln Lhe neck back hlps knees feeL legs and
ankles Some of Lhe common medlcal condlLlons LhaL have been relaLed Lo cumulaLlve
Lrauma dlsorders lnclude
carpal Lunnel syndrome
Lrlgger flnger
deCuervaln's dlsease
eplcondyllLls
Lhoraclc ouLleL syndrome
burslLls
LendonlLls
Many [obs ln a workplace have Lhe poLenLlal for an ln[ury or lllness Lo occur whlle
performlng Lhe normal work or dally acLlvlLles requlred of Lhe [ob lL can be caused by Loo
many unlnLerrupLed repeLlLlons of an acLlvlLy or moLlon unnaLural or awkward moLlons
over exerLlonmuscle faLlgue low LemperaLures lncorrecL posLures and vlbraLlon
Several examples of Lyplcal [ob acLlvlLles ofLen assoclaLed wlLh C1us
- bufflng and pollshlng
- Lyplng and daLa enLry
- meaL cuLLlng and packaglng
- uslng hand and vlbraLlng Lools
- palnL scraplng and sandlng
- reachlng and llfLlng
CerLaln rlsk facLors have been ldenLlfled as causes of C1us from Lhe [ob acLlvlLles llsLed
above 1hey lnclude
sLaLlc posLure
awkward posLure
repeLlLlon
force
vlbraLlon
exLreme LemperaLures
S y m p t o m s o f C u m u | a t | v e 1 r a u m a D | s o r d e r s
AlLhough cerLaln lndlvlduals may have no vlslble slgn of ln[ury Lhey may flnd lL dlfflculL
Lo perform slmple Lasks 1he followlng are Lhe more common complalnLs assoclaLed wlLh
C1us
paln
Llngllng
numbness
vlslble swelllng or redness
loss of flexlblllLy and sLrengLh
1 r e a t m e n t
9hyslclans usually depend on a paLlenLs reporLs of sympLoms and wlll obLaln a deLalled
hlsLory of Lhe sympLoms and of Lhe paLlenLs work and nonwork acLlvlLles lf Lhe problem
seems Lo be a C1u Lhe physlclan mlghL do LesLs Lo deLermlne whlch klnd of C1u ls lnvolved
1esLs mlghL lnvolve movlng Lhe wrlsL ln parLlcular ways or uslng lnsLrumenLs Lo deLermlne
wheLher nerve funcLlon has been affecLed 1reaLmenLs of course depend on Lhe naLure and
severlLy of Lhe condlLlon Mlld cases dlagnosed early can ofLen be LreaLed successfully wlLh
anLllnflammaLory drugs resL or llmlLed acLlvlLy and ln some cases physlcal Lherapy
DLVkAN ASLANCI 200849300