Overuse Injuries
Overuse injuries occur due to repeated and excessive demands on tissues over time, resulting in tissue damage and pain. All our bodily tissues have tolerances to activities and postures and have a degree of ability to adapt to the stresses placed upon them. The stresses we place on our tissues very enormously in quality and include a large number of different stress types such as compression and impingement, tension and contraction, tension and shearing. Continual stresses on the tissues leads to changes within them which lead to failure and pain as the rate of injury overtakes the ability of the tissues to repair and heal.
Tissues vary in susceptibility to stress and overuse, with neural tissues being very vulnerable especially to the restriction of blood supply or ischaemic damage leading to thickening of the nerve membranes and in severe cases degeneration of the nerves themselves. Muscular pain may result from a low level continuous contraction when muscles are required to perform repeated actions. It is known that psychosocial factors have some relevance, such as satisfaction about work, the self perception of health, the person's coping mechanisms, depression and anxiety. Many activities, occupations and sporting endeavours involve repetitive actions and can trigger overuse injuries.
Tissues vary in susceptibility to stress and overuse, with neural tissues being very vulnerable especially to the restriction of blood supply or ischaemic damage leading to thickening of the nerve membranes and in severe cases degeneration of the nerves themselves. Muscular pain may result from a low level continuous contraction when muscles are required to perform repeated actions. It is known that psychosocial factors have some relevance, such as satisfaction about work, the self perception of health, the person's coping mechanisms, depression and anxiety. Many activities, occupations and sporting endeavours involve repetitive actions and can trigger overuse injuries.
