Forearm pain blamed on work-place distress
Psychological distress is as big a factor in the development of forearm pain as repetitive physical movements such as typing, according to a study by the ARC's Epidemiology Unit at Manchester University, published in the BMJ.
A team led by the EU's Professor Gary McFarlane studied more than 1,200 people aged 18-65 over two years. They found that the concept of pain caused purely by repetitive movements in the arms and wrists to be false.
Instead, they found that the pain was linked to several other factors - including high levels of psychological stress and dissatisfaction with support from colleagues at work.
The researchers also found that those who reported forearm pain had also suffered from other pains, such as back or shoulder pain; proving the theory that people rarely suffer from forearm pain in isolation.
Doctors have argued over the controversial condition of forearm pain (also known as repetitive strain injury or RSI) for years. One school of thought holds the view that forearm pain is a purely physical condition brought on by repetitive movement. The other argues that it is simply a physical manifestation of stress.
"We have found that both these factors are very important. Neither mechanical of psychological factors are solely responsible; both play a part," added Prof McFarlane.
