RSI of the neck

What is RSI of the neck?

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If you think you may be suffering from RSI in the neck, it is important to assess if you are working with a poor posture, as this could be what is causing the pain. When the weight of the head is not vertically aligned over the centre of the body, it can bring on symptoms of RSI. This typically occurs when leaning forward, a habit often seen in office workers.

Adopting a particular sitting position can also trigger RSI in the neck. When a person is sitting at a desk or table and leans forward in an awkward position, this causes the neck muscles to strain. This is because the neck muscles absorb the extra weight of the head and if the weight is unevenly distributed, as it is when a person adopts an awkward and uncomfortable position, this ultimately leads the neck to strain. Desk-based staff are particularly prone to RSI of the neck, so much so that neck strain is reported as one of the top three complaints in more than half of RSI incidences in this line of work.

In addition to the above, it is important that those working in any job ensure the seating at their workstation is correctly positioned. You should consider using ergonomic computer input devices, such as a traditional mouse and keyboard, as extensive use of laptops are thought to be a particular cause of RSI in the neck. This is because when workers use a laptop they are typing with the keyboard very close to the screen. Laptops also encourage a poor posture, so if you can’t avoid using a laptop for work, it is recommended that you use a table positioned at the correct height for you.

What can I do about it?

If you are suffering as a result of your job, you might be entitled to make a claim. If you’d like to speak with a member of our experienced team, please call 0800 028 2060 or we can call you back at a time convenient for you.