i’ve now (since last week) developed some RSI in my hands and wrists due to overuse of the computer during isolation. No dumbness or pins and needles, just dull pain at the top of my hands and around the wrist areas. Gets worse if i use the keyboard so have been trying to minimise computer use.
What I am uncertain of is if training with RSI will make it worse or not. Types of training are deadlifts, squats, chest press, overhead press. I was wondering if you could give me some direction here? thank you.
Sorry to hear about this. The only way to find out is to train and see how you do. With that said, I think that the risks of avoiding training for this reason alone are substantial, so there are almost certainly some training-related modifications that can be made to facilitate training without exacerbating your symptoms, if they do indeed get exacerbated by the basic lifts. This may involve potentially significant changes in exercise selection, for example.
Hi Austin, thank you - I really appreciate you taking the time to respond.
i’m continuing to do high bar squats and leg press, which seem to be fine. I don’t think basic lifts cause any discomfort during the actual act of the lift, but my hand therapist has advised to stop lifting using the hands for the moment. I’m not sure around the science behind this - would the act of gripping a barbell with weight on it during a deadlift cause the tendons worsen? I was under the impression that tendons react well to weight, just not repetitive movements (like typing, using phone etc)?
Are there there any upper body exercises that can be done that you recommend and minimise hand use?