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Tuesday August 22 2017
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
NOR’WEST NEWS
HEALTH & AWARENESS
RSI, OOS or Gradual Process Injury can be treated!
What causes OOS? The Department of Labour states: “One of the favourable explanations for OOS is that it is caused by muscles being held tense or tight for too long.’’
These conditions may be caused by repetitive tasks, forceful exertions, vibrations, mechanical compression, or sustained or awkward positions. The shorter and tenser the muscle, the harder it pulls on the places it attaches to (e.g. the bone). When this happens in the forearm the pull at those attachments and tendons causes irritation and inflammation of those areas. This will be noticed as pain in the elbow and wrist. When this happens in the neck and shoulder area, it will be noticed as local pain, stiffness and sometimes headaches. The nerves run right through the muscles. Tension on the muscles causes pressure on the nerves. As the muscles shorten, the nerves running through them have a tendency to both shorten and slide less well. This causes the nerves to radiate pain throughout the arm. Triggerpoints are areas in your muscles, where a few muscle fibres have contracted
Physical Sense has published the “OOS in a knot. These knots (the hard and painful originate in your Client Information Booklet”. It is full of areas in your muscles felt during massage) neck. Pain in your handy tips on how to self treat and avoid weaken and shorten your muscles and can little finger or this condition. cause referred pain. forearm can originate This drawing is an example of pain areas in your chest. This (the red area), caused by triggerpoints (the is the reason that black X). your therapist may treat an area, other than where you are experiencing pain. In the following drawing you can see the painful areas in the head caused by the triggerpoint in the neck. This is often the result of poor posture. Physical Sense has been treating this condition for the last 25 years. Their experience is: • Most of the patients who have had their pain for less than a year leave this clinic free
This is your muscle’s reaction to of pain (but they have to be very careful to
continuous irritation. In most cases, there avoid relapses). • When the OOS pain has been there are multiple causes for this irritation. These could be: repeated actions without breaks; for more than a year, that percentage drops constant static posture resulting in constant to 60%. muscle contraction; lack of healthy blood • The other 40% will leave the clinic with flow; bad posture resulting in continuous relief of pain and with knowledge about high loading of some muscles, etc. numerous strategies to relieve and handle As you can see, your thumb pain can the remaining pain.
Get it for free at www/oos.co.nz/ FREEBOOK or you can reach Physical Sense on 377 2577 or visit them at 300 Colombo Street or online at www.triggerpoints.co.nz.
Physical Sense Gym and Physio is located at 300 Colombo Street, Sydenham. The Blue Line Bus stops in front of the door and there is ample parking. To enquire about specialised exercise classes or physiotherapy treatment, phone 377-2577 or visit www.triggerpoints.co.nz
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