Some of the most common causes of overuse injury syndromes of the upper extremity include repetitive movements, non-ergonomic tool use, ineffective posture and sports/exercise related injury. Overuse injuries involving the shoulder, elbow and wrist are amongst the most common conditions treated in the outpatient upper extremity rehabilitation setting.
Common overuse injuries include:
- Swimmer’s Shoulder (Thrower’s Shoulder/ Impingement Syndrome)
- Tennis elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
- Golfer’s elbow ( Medial Epicondylitis)
- Pitching Elbow
- Hand and wrist tendonitis
OT intervention in this population may involve:
- Protection of healing structures with splinting
- Gentle reintroduction of stretching, range of motion, strengthening when advised by MD
- Education on Joint Protection Principles/ Work Simplification/Ergonomic Principles
- Planning and Education on appropriate exercise routines to increase strength
- Activity Modification
Common Conditions Treated by Occupational Therapy
