RSI Repetitive Strain Injury treatment for hand and wrist pain in the UK at RSI Treatment Clinics in Brighton, Edinburgh, London W1, and Oxford UK
Specialist treatment for repetitive strain injuries including
  • carpal tunnel syndrome
  • frozen shoulder
  • arm, hand, wrist & finger pain
  • numbness & tingling
  • WRULD
  • neck, shoulder & upper back pain
  • headaches
  • tennis & golfer’s elbow
  • texter’s thumb
  • myofascial pain syndrome


  • What is RSI? RSI is a syndrome, a collection of symptoms, which appear when there has been overuse and repetitive strain on muscles and the fascia and connective tissue surrounding muscles and joints. This produces adhesions - literally "stuck" areas - and trigger points, areas of permanently contracted muscle fibres which cause pain in related areas.

    Wrist and hand pain, "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" or WRULD "Work related upper limb disorder"
    One of the most common forms of RSI is "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" or WRULD, affecting the arms, wrists and hands. This is prevalent in busy office environments, where prolonged keyboard work is required. It is diagnosed as the impingement or entrapment of the nerves in the wrist, a narrowing of the wrist's "carpal tunnel". The question is "why is the carpal tunnel blocked?" This is most often due to trigger points and fascial restrictions in the neck, the shoulders and across the chest - the problem is therefore not primarily in the carpal tunnel (wrist) itself, but in the areas where there are restrictions which cause the impingement at the carpal tunnel. Your RSI symptoms may even have started with neck stiffness or pain, or headaches, and these symptoms often accompany the arm and hand symptoms. At RSI Clinics Ltd we will treat the problem where it originates, not just where the symptoms are.

    When a movement has been carried out repetitively, for instance when using a mouse, or when a non-neutral posture has been held for a long time, tensing over a computer screen, RSI can be the result and you may experience some of the symptoms listed below.

    Symptoms of RSI hand pain and weakness in the arms, wrists and hands include the following:

    • Hand and wrist pain, throbbing and persistent pain down the arms into the wrists, hands and fingers
    • Deep throbbing or dull pain, pain 'like toothache' at rest or when using the arms or hands
    • Shooting pains, 'nerve' pains down the arms, in the wrists, hands or fingers
    • Tingling, 'pins and needles', burning sensations in hands
    • Inflammation
    • Numbness, 'cotton wool' feelings
    • Lack of any feeling in parts of the arms, wrists and hands
    • Dull persistent pain at night
    • Spread of pain across the chest and into the neck on using hands and fingers, as when typing or using a mouse
    • Tightness or stiffness in the shoulders, neck or chest
    • Pain on light massage just underneath the collarbones
    • Weak grip or inability to grip or lift anything for long, e.g. a cup, fork, toothbrush
    • Inability to turn door handles
    • Inability to type or use a keyboard
    • Inability to write or hold a pen
    • Inability to drive, turn a steering wheel, change gear, operate the handbrake, etc.
    • Reduction in range of movement or pain with movement
    • Weakness, lack of strength, sometimes no strength at all

    Practitioners at RSI Clinics Ltd
    All our bodywork practitioners at RSI Clinics have trained extensively in clinical massage techniques, myofascial release, trigger point therapy and advanced stretching techniques. They undergo regular developmental training and keep up to date with the most effective forms of manual and mind-body therapy for RSI conditions.

    Our senior practitioners have, in addition, trained in craniosacral therapy, pilates movement, harmonics technique, visceral manipulation and neuro-muscular re-abilitation.

    How we work with you

    Your first visit to RSI Clinics will include an assessment and initial treatment from a lead practitioner. They will discuss with you the ongoing treatment plan best suited to your individual condition. Your plan may include treatment by more than one RSI Clinics practitioner and you will be given aftercare advice, for example self help stretches, to help you manage and maintain progress yourself.



    Treatment


    Our practitioners at RSI Clinics treat RSI conditions with myofascial release and trigger point therapy, incorporating clinical massage techniques such as soft tissue and positional release. They will also help your nervous system to change its response to sensation in sensitive areas from “fight or flight” to calm.

    This combination of bodywork modalities helps the mind-body to release areas which are adhesed or tightening around nerves and other pain sensitive structures. Muscles and connective tissue are rebalanced so that key structures can take further repetitive strain more comfortably.

    Treatment at RSI Clinics Ltd should bring about the following benefits:
    • Diminishing or elimination of hand pain, pain in arms, wrists and fingers
    • Increased sensitivity to sensations and diminishment of numbness
    • Decrease in sensations of pins and needles, 'cotton wool', tingling, or burning in hands
    • Increased strength in hands, wrists and fingers
    • Improved grip for driving, lifting, and carrying out daily tasks
    • Ability to type, write with a pen and perform fine motor functions with hands and fingers
    • Decrease in autonomic nervous system (ANS) sensations of anxiety and panic associated with inability to use hands
    • Decrease or elimination of pain and stiffness in neck and shoulders


    Trigger point therapy
    Trigger points are areas of muscle fibres which are permanently contracted and sometimes painful to touch. They cause the entire muscle to shorten and tighten, and refer pain to other areas. Treatment involves locating and releasing trigger points which are referring pain to the affected areas and causing narrowing and adhesions.

    Very often we will treat an area which is removed from the area of pain. The result is a significant reduction or elimination of pain in the affected area, although it has not been directly treated.

    Trigger point therapy is always accompanied by local myofascial release, because if the fascia in the area of a trigger point has not been released, the trigger point is likely to return.

    Myofascial Release
    As well as trigger point release we look for areas of fascia which have been adhesed and are restricting normal functioning in their own and other areas. We use specific techniques for releasing fascia and the nerves and other structures it bears down on when restricted. We also use soft tissue release and myofascial stretching to release restricted areas. For more information about Myofascial Release please go to the Myofascial Release Clinic UK website here.

    Stress-related symptoms
    Autonomic nervous system responses to physical, emotional or physiological stress or trauma always involve tensing of the connective tissues, either causing or contributing to RSI symptoms. We use Dr. Peter Levine's Somatic Experiencing approach to allow stressful or even traumatic experiences resulting in PTSD to be integrated into the mind-body easily and holistically so that we can get on with life without ANS responses causing pain or restrictions.

    Movement and re-education
    When muscles, fascia and trigger points have been released we test again for movement, pain and strength levels and help you develop posture or ways of working which will prevent RSI from recurring. These may include exercises from Pilates or specific stretches. They will all be easily achievable and can usually be carried out discretely during the course of the day, even at the office.

    We strongly suggest that you seek treatment to eliminate the causes of RSI and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome before you undergo surgery for the symptoms.

    UK Venues for RSI Clinics Ltd
    London W1: 1 Harley Street
    Brighton, Edinburgh and Oxford,centrally based for England in Oxford and West Oxfordshire


    Fees
    London W1, Harley Street: £90 per 55 minute treatment
    Brighton, Edinburgh, Oxford: £70 per 55 minute treatment




    Email
    us at info@rsiclinics.co.uk for more details about how we can help you recover from repetitve strain injuries, or telephone Anne Cruickshank on 07890 212076, or Amanda Oswald on 07742 567528.

    Anne Cruickshank, BA(Hons), SEP, CThA
    Amanda Oswald, BA (Hons), MBA, ITEC Dip, CNHC
    RSI Clinics Ltd
    Telephone Anne on 07890 212076 or Amanda on 07742 567528

    UK Clinics:
    Brighton,
    Edinburgh,
    London W1, Harley Street
    Oxford, centrally based for England in Oxford and West Oxfordshire

Directors
Anne Cruickshank BA(Hons), SEP, CThA, Physical Bodywork and Trauma Therapy

Amanda Oswald, BA (Hons), MBA, ITEC Dip, CNHC, Physical Bodywork


London, Harley Street, W1, UK
Brighton,
Edinburgh,
Oxford, centrally based for England in Oxford and West Oxfordshire


Please telephone us for more information about how we can help you recover from repetitive strain injuries, or to book an appointment at any of our clinics.

Anne Cruickshank
07890 212076

Amanda Oswald
07742 567528


Email us

info@rsiclinics.co.uk


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Bookings and Directions
RSI Clinics Ltd at
London W1 Harley Street,
Brighton,
Edinburgh,
Oxford


About Anne Cruickshank and Amanda Oswald
Training, qualifications and biographies








What clients say about the RSI Clinic treatment

Jon P, Brighton

"Your myofascial release therapy was a real help in my recovery. I had been suffering from RSI for many months, and for the month before our first session the symptoms had become so severe that typing for more than a few seconds was simply impossible.

For me, psychological techniques aimed at releasing physical tension were an important part of the recovery.

I would say that out of the physical therapies I tried (inc. chiropractic, osteopathy, sports massage) myofascial release seems to be more attuned to the problems of RSI. In my case, it was more effective in addressing my symptoms than the other therapies. The two myofascial release sessions were an important part of my recovery, and alongside the psychological techniques, have allowed me to return to typing normally.

I would like to thank you for your help. Feel free to quote from this as you please".

Rick W, Brighton

"For many years I experienced severe RSI in particular in the right arm. Last year this became extreme and made movement in my right shoulder very limited and painful. After two sessions with Anne my shoulder began to improve significantly and the other symptoms of RSI reduced to a manageable level. After six treatments I am well on the road to being free of pain and have regained the majority of my flexibility lost some years ago. I have found this treatment fantastic, especially as I have tried every other treatment - both conventional and complementary - with no particular effect. I have recommended it to many people and would tell anyone to give it a go!"

Text and images copyright Anne Cruickshank 2007