What is a repetitive motion injury?

A temporary or permanent injury to muscles, nerves, ligaments or tendons that is caused by doing the same motion over and over again. Repetitive motion injuries are also called repetitive stress injuries, cumulative trauma disorders, repetitive motion disorders and overuse syndromes. Examples of daily repetitive motions include bending, twisting, grasping and reaching. 

Common repetitive motion injuries include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Bursitis
• Tendinitis
• Tenosynovitis (wrist tendinitis)
• Epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
• Ganglion cysts
• Trigger finger

When a particular muscle group is overused, microscopic tears can develop in the tissue. Our bodies do repair tears however when the rate that tears are being made overtakes the rate that our body is repairing this is when inflammation sets in.

Symptoms of a repetitive motion injury can include:

• Pain
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Swelling or redness of the affected area
• Loss of flexibility and strength of the affected area resulting in weakness

The most commonly affected areas of the body are fingers, thumbs, hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders. However, the neck, back, hips, legs, knees, feet and ankles can also be affected. 

Who is affected 

As we age these types of injuries become more common as they usually develop over time in the course of normal work or daily activities. 

Those who perform repetitive tasks such as:

• assembly line work
• sewing
• computer work
• carpentry
• playing musical instruments
• gardening 
• sports such as golf and tennis

Treatment and Recovery Options

If you think you may have a repetitive motion injury it is important to reduce or better yet stop the motions that caused the symptoms and seek advice from your primary care physician or physical therapist.

Other recovery options include:

• Exercises to stretch the area
• Conditioning exercises to strengthen the area to help prevent further injury
• Applying ice or heat
• The use of splints or braces 
• Pain management with the use of anti-inflammatories 
• In some cases, although rare, surgery may be needed to prevent permanent damage

How noni can help

Noni, a Polynesian superfood, has powerful anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. One compound that noni is particularly rich in is a coumarin called scopoletin. Besides being renowned for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties it also supports the body with smooth joint movement. 

Former University of Hawaii head sports trainer Melody Toth advises the use of noni for the types of injuries that active people are most likely to experience including repetitive motion injuries. In her words, “noni applied to the area offers excellent pain relief.” Learn more 

Apply Pain Relief Noni Lotion IcyHeat or IcyHeat MAX for fast-acting and powerful relief from pain, stiffness, and swelling. For the fastest relief we recommend our IcyHeat MAX formula.

For those with a repetitive motion injury we recommend applying to the affected area 2 to 3 times per day.

As a preventative: Simply apply before strenuous physical labor, training or playing sports. 

Additionally, consider adding Noni Fruit Leather to your daily diet as raw food to feed the cells of the body. Noni Fruit Leather can be particularly helpful for inflammatory pain because it naturally helps reduce inflammation throughout the body.

Have you used our lotions for relief from repetitive motion injuries? We’d love to hear from you in the comments. 

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/repetitive-motion-injuries#1
https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-are-repetitive-stress-injuries-189251
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0656/4714/9302/files/Rub_on_Noni.pdf?v=1666075738