An injury that can result when a person makes too many of the same motions over a long period is called what?

• A. Repetitive strain injury
• B. Sprain
• C. Contusion
• D. Dislocation

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how repeated, same-motion over time can irritate and injure soft tissues. A repetitive strain injury occurs when small stresses from doing the same movements day after day accumulate faster than the body can repair them. This leads to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in areas like the wrists, hands, elbows, or shoulders. In a hands-on field like massage or reflexology, this often stems from repetitive hand and arm motions, especially with poor posture or little rest between sessions. It’s important to note this is about gradual overuse, not a single traumatic event.

For contrast, a sprain is an injury to ligaments from a sudden twist or pull, a contusion is a bruise from a direct impact, and a dislocation is a joint forced out of its normal position. Prevention includes using good body mechanics, taking micro-breaks, varying tasks, keeping wrists in a neutral position, and setting up an ergonomic workspace, along with gentle stretching and strengthening to support the involved tissues. The term that fits the described scenario is repetitive strain injury.