Massage therapy is becoming an intervention strategy because its effect can be assessed in almost every stage of RSI. However, massage's greatest potential is its preventive power: not allowing RSI to progress to acute pain and avoiding expensive medical costs, surgery, and time away from the job. An ounce of prevention, in this case, is definitely worth a pound of cure.

The demand for massage therapy to reduce the risk of RSI continues to grow. Why? Because massage therapists are trained to work with pain patterns such as RSI. They understand the synergism between muscle groups and how overusing one muscle, or group of muscles, for prolonged periods of time puts tremendous stress on all the muscles of a particular joint.

Massage therapists may end the session by using ice and/or heat to decrease pain, increase blood flow, and calm irritated nerves. Stretching and resistance exercisers can also help strengthen and relax sore muscles while reducing the chances of reactivating the pain pattern.

Besides prevention, massage therapy is highly beneficial when combines with other forms of health care at any stage of RSI, short of surgery. Consult your medical doctor, chiropractor, or osteopath to make the appropriate diagnosis and help correct any structural misalignment contributing to RSI. Remember that education is the first step toward prevention.