"It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: RSI Theory & Therapy for Computer Professionals."
In our book we explain that for our readers, "the only statistic that counts is 'one,' the reader. Feeling the pain of RSI is all the convincing you need." But for many others, the following information is helpful. The stats below are widely quoted from various pages on the following government sites:
U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health,
National Center for Health Statistics
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Frequency
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Repetitive strain injuries are the nation's most common of all types, account for up to 60% of all reported occupational illnesses. |
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Cost
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RSI is the the most costly occupational health problem, costing more than $20 billion a year. |
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Duration
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Injuries diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome are the lengthiest absence reported for any major type of job-related injury or illness, at approximately 30 days. |
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Surgery
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Carpal tunnel release operations are the second most common surgical procedure in the U.S. |
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Failure
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The Journal of the American Medical Association April 17, 1991: after carpal tunnel surgery, 57% report return of some preoperative symptoms, most commonly pain. |
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Trend
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It's been reported that NIOSH had forecast some years ago that 50% of the work force may suffer from RSIs by the year 2000. If you bring up the subject with almost anyone, you can see that it might have come true... it's hard not to encounter someone who's had a problem or knows someone who did. |