Q & A from the Report Author of Repetitive Strain Injuries in Adults

Questions for Matthew Garnett, Health Statistician and Lead Author of “Repetitive Strain Injuries in Adults in the Past 3 Months: United States, 2021.”

Q: Why did you decide to look at repetitive strain injuries?

MG: When people tend to think about injuries, they often think of acute injuries like cuts or broken bones. However, repetitive strain injuries, which may develop over time, can also be problematic. Repetitive strain injuries are a broad group of injuries that are more chronic in nature – they happen over time through cumulative actions, stress, or tension on certain parts of the body and include a wide array of conditions. These conditions can include conditions like carpel tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, tendinitis, or shin splints. Questions recently added to the National Health Interview Survey gave us the opportunity to examine these injuries among adults from a nationally weighted survey.

Q: Can you explain what are repetitive strain injuries?

MG: Repetitive strain injuries, which can also be called repetitive motion or repetitive stress injuries, are umbrella terms for a variety of conditions that result from the same movement or force over an extended period of time. They affect different parts of the body and can involve tendons, muscles, nerves, and/or joints. These conditions can result in mild to severe pain, numbness, and/or limited mobility.

Repetitive strain injuries can develop from a variety of activities. For example, hobbies or recreational activities like golf or tennis can result in a variety of shoulder and arm conditions. There are also occupational or job-related activities that can result in repetitive strain injuries, like typing or factory line machine work, which can result in carpel tunnel syndrome.

Q: Can you describe some of the findings?

MG: During 2021, among adults in the United States (aged 18 and over), 9% reported experiencing a repetitive strain injury in the past three months; and of those reporting a repetitive strain injury, 44% had to limit their usual activities for at least 24 hours. Notably, of those who had to limit their usual activities more than half (51%) consulted a doctor or medical professional.

Adults aged 35–49 (10%) and 50–64 (12%) reported repetitive strain injuries at higher percentages than other age groups along with White non-Hispanic adults (subsequently, White; 10%), and adults with higher incomes (with family income at 400% or more of the federal poverty level; 10%).

Of adults who reported a repetitive strain injury, White adults (47%), women (47%), and adults with lower incomes (family income less than 200% of the federal poverty level; 51%) had the highest percentages of limiting their activities for at least 24 hours.

For those who limited their activity for at least 24 hours due to a repetitive strain injury, women (56%) and Black non-Hispanic adults (66%) were most likely to consult a doctor or medical professional.

Q: Do you have comparative trend data that goes further back than 2021?

MG: These questions are new and were introduced to the National Health Interview Survey in 2020. Therefore, trend data is unavailable for this topic. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in behavior and activity associated with the pandemic, 2020 data was not directly compared with 2021 in this report.

Q: What is the main takeaway message here?

MG: Repetitive strain injuries, with nearly one in ten adults reporting experiencing a repetitive strain injury in the past three months in 2021, have consequences that can impact their day-to-day lives and require medical attention. Among adults in the United States (aged 18 and over), 9% reported experiencing a repetitive strain injury in the past three months; and of those reporting a repetitive strain injury, 44% had to limit their usual activities for at least 24 hours. Notably, of those who had to limit their usual activities more than half (51%) consulted a doctor or medical professional.