Reflex sympathetic dystrophy, repetitive action..

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy   A pain syndrome which is a nerve disorder resulting from a limb injury. It usually affects the arm or leg. Symptoms include intense burning or aching pain along with swelling, abnormal sweating and hypersensitivity of the area.

Repetitive action   An action which is done again and again. Hand and wrist actions can be considered repetitive if the same motion or action is repeated more than once within a 30 second period. Using a keyboard or a mouse are repetitive actions.

Repetitive Strain Injury  Repetitive Strain Injury, or RSI, is also named Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS), Cumulative Trauma Disorder, Repetitive Motion Disorder, Repetitive Stress Injury, Typing Injury, Upper Limb Disorders (ULD). These have become umbrella terms for all the various soft tissue and inflammatory joint conditions arising from repetitive actions, like typing. These conditions include tendonitis, and nerve entrapment syndromes. Symptoms appear gradually and may include pain, tingling, numbness and swelling in the joints and muscles generally of the hand, arm and forearm. Tenderness and autonomic dysfunction are sometimes present. Other symptoms include lack of movement and pain in the shoulder and neck regions. See "What is RSI" for more information.

Repetitive Stress Injury   Another name for Repetitive Strain Injury, affecting the muscles, tendons and nerves. It is a category of musculoskeletal disorder which occurs when muscles are kept tense for very long periods of time or are overused, due to poor posture or repetitive motions.

Reverse Phalen's   This test is performed by holding both wrist in full extension for 30 seconds. It is used to measure the increase in pressure in the carpel tunnel adding sensitivity to the results from the Phalens test. Click here to read more about the testing Desk Doctor uses to detect signs of RSI.

Rheumatoid arthritis   A chronic form of arthritis where white blood cells move from the bloodstream into the synovial membrane causing the body's immune system to attack the joint lining . It is marked by stiffness and inflammation of the joints, weakness, loss of mobility, and deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disorder and should not be confused with Osteoarthritis.

Rotator cuff   A structure around the shoulder-joint capsule composed of four deep muscles and their tendon fibers which are attached to the humerus. The rotator cuff provides stability and strength to the shoulder joint during rotation and movement of the shoulder. The shoulder is a highly flexible joint and relies on the muscles of the rotator cuff to create stability for the joint. Any interruption of muscle control, weakness or excessive tension in the rotator cuff will affect the proper function of the shoulder potentially causing damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves to the arm as well as arteries and veins. Adhesive capsulitis (often called frozen shoulder) is an example of a rotator cuff problem. More on rotator cuff, symptoms, self-help.