Originally published October 24 2005
Study finds repetitive strain injuries can lead to early nerve damage
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Ann Barr, Ph.D., and Mary Barbe, Ph.D., at Temple University's College of Health Professions, found that cytokines, which are proteins that promote inflammation, are responsible for nerve damage brought on by highly repetitive, low-force work.
Repetitive strain injuries are the nation's most common and costly occupational health problem, affecting hundreds of thousands of American workers and costing more than $20 billion a year in worker's compensation, so employers have long been interested in the connection between the two conditions.
The purpose of the study was to observe early changes in nerves caused by repetitive strain that lead to chronic pain and eventual degenerative problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, tennis elbow or other serious neural and musculoskeletal injuries.
They discovered that nerve injuries caused by low-force, highly repetitive work can be blamed on an onslaught of cytokines -- proteins that help start inflammation.
As the nerve injury progressed, ever greater numbers of cytokines were made at the injury site.
Unexpectedly, the researchers also found that the cytokines affected the rats' psychosocial responses.
With so many cytokines entering the blood stream so early, some apparently traveled to the brain, sparking the rat version of "sick-worker" syndrome.
"At three weeks, even before the rats experienced pain from their wrist injuries, we watched them self-regulate their work behavior," said Barr.
By five weeks to eight weeks, when cytokine production reached "peak" levels, some rats curled up in a ball and slept in between tasks.
The researchers theorize that as early as three weeks -- as cytokines first appear in the newly injured nerve -- signs of "sick-worker" syndrome may begin.
The connection between this "off" feeling and possible neural and musculoskeletal injuries may not be immediately apparent to the employee or employer, since actual pain is rare at this early stage of injury.
While some employers might see the cytokine connection as a simple opportunity to slack off work, Barbe disagrees.
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