Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

uptured disk 353
Typical symptoms of repetitive motion injuries
are
• PAIN and swelling
• numbness or tingling
• limited range of motion or movement
When establishing the diagnosis the doctor
pays particular attention to the personal history of
work, recreational, and other activities the individual
performs on a regular basis. Diagnostic
imaging procedures are usually not necessary.
Treatment is rest from the activity that caused the
symptoms in combination with NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-
INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (NSAIDS); heat or cold to the
site; and PHYSICAL THERAPY to learn stretching exercises
and techniques for lifting, standing, and sitting
that support musculoskeletal health.
Poor posture, staying in one position for an
extended time, and repeating the same motion
without breaking from it are the key risks for repetitive
motion injuries. Prevention efforts include frequent
changes in posture and position and
frequent, short breaks from the repetitious task.
This may be as simple as switching hands
to perform the task or pausing at regular intervals
to stretch the muscles, stomp the feet, roll the neck
and shoulders, and shake or wiggle the hands.
See also CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME; OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY; PATELLOFEMORAL SYNDROME; PLAN-
TAR FASCIITIS; ROTATOR CUFF IMPINGEMENT SYNDROME;
SYNOVITIS.
rhabdomyoma A benign (noncancerous) tumor
that originates in MUSCLE tissue, usually skeletal
muscle. Rhabdomyoma is somewhat more common
in children than adults. The doctor may
choose to surgically remove the rhabdomyoma to
obtain a definitive diagnosis and rule out cancer.
However, rhabdomyoma does not become cancerous.
Rather, it may have the appearance of a cancerous
tumor so the doctor removes it for biopsy
and laboratory analysis. Rhabdomyoma may occur
in the HEART, presenting a potentially life-threatening
situation that usually requires surgery to
remove the tumor.
See also LIPOMA.
RICE The acronym for rest, ice, compression,
and elevation. RICE is the common first-line therapeutic
approach for most musculoskeletal
injuries such as SPRAINS AND STRAINS. Rest removes
the injured part from the source of the injury. Ice
slows the process of INFLAMMATION and eases PAIN.
Compression, such as a wrap or brace, provides
support so the muscles can relax. Elevation slows
the flow of BLOOD through the part, further easing
pain, reducing swelling, and enforcing rest.
See also ATHLETIC INJURIES; BURSITIS; FRACTURE;
SYNOVITIS; TENDONITIS.
rotator cuff impingement syndrome A chronic
overuse condition involving the rotator cuff, a
group of muscles and tendons in the shoulder that
stabilizes the shoulder JOINT—the glenohumeral
joint where the humerus (long BONE of the upper
arm) joins the upper part of the scapula (shoulder
blade)—during elevation of the arm. The rotator
cuff is vulnerable to strains ranging in severity
from minor stretching of the tissues to significant
tears. The resulting INFLAMMATION constricts, or
impinges, the ability of the shoulder to move
through its full range of motion. OSTEOARTHRITIS
may also inflame the joint with the same consequence.
The doctor’s examination includes a series of
movements designed to elicit specific results that
are relatively conclusive for rotator cuff impingement.
However, other conditions can produce similar
symptoms. COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) SCAN,
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI), or ARTHROSCOPY
may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.
Most rotator cuff impingement symptoms
respond to conservative treatment that includes
hot or cold to the shoulder, NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-
INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (NSAIDS), injection with CORTI-
COSTEROID MEDICATIONS, PHYSICAL THERAPY, and rest
with limited exercises to maintain FLEXIBILITY and
function of the joint. ADHESIVE CAPSULITIS, in which
the tissues fuse together within the joint, is a major
risk of immobilizing the shoulder. Though most
people recover from an episode of symptoms without
residual complications, rotator cuff impingement
syndrome tends to be chronic, with repeated
aggravation setting off new cycles of symptoms.
See also ATHLETIC INJURIES; MUSCLE; REPETITIVE
MOTION INJURIES; SPRAINS AND STRAINS; TENDON.
ruptured disk
See HERNIATED NUCLEUS PULPOSUS.