Repetitive strain injury.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes the characteristics of people who report a repetitive strain injury (RSI) and examines the association of an RSI with chronic pain and with psychological distress.


METHODS
The data are from Statistics Canada's 2000/01 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) and the 1994/95 to 2000/01 National Population Health Survey (NPHS).


METHODS
Cross-tabulations were used to estimate the prevalence of RSI and contact with health care professionals by selected characteristics. Multiple logistic regression models were used to determine if associations persisted after controlling for other factors, and to determine if RSIs were significantly associated with chronic pain and psychological distress.


RESULTS
In 2000/01, 10% of Canadians aged 20 or older reported having had an RSI serious enough to limit their usual activities at some point in the previous 12 months. Work-related activities were most often the cause, and injury to the upper body was more common than to the lower body. People with an RSI had more contacts with health care professionals and higher levels of chronic pain and psychological distress than did those without an RSI. Two years after an RSI was first reported, pain and distress levels remained high among men and had risen among women.
Tjepkema
Michael
M
Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada, Toronto Regional Office, 25 St. Clair Avenue E., Toronto, Ontario, M4T 1M4. Michael.Tjepkema@statcan.ca
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology