Do you experience a constant tingling pain in your neck, fingers, wrist, or back due to sitting and typing at work? If yes, you could be suffering from Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS).

OOS is mainly a collective form of the conditions that occur due to repeated movements of muscles, or some particular kind of posture. Thereby, it is quite common in people who are required to work in prolonged periods of immobility, like using computers at work.


Warning Signs!

If you experience any of the following symptoms when at work, you could be suffering from OOS:

young woman at her work desk feeling slight pain in her neck
  • Pain and stiffness of a joint
  • Difficulty in moving the joint
  • Swelling in the forearm, wrist, shoulder
  • Muscle weakness
  • Discomfort in the neck or shoulders
  • Backache 

In the beginning, it is not painful, as the symptoms come and go. Also, discontinuing the task tend to improve the symptoms. But, continuous use can cause severe back and neck pain and make simple tasks like holding a glass of water or opening the door, look difficult. 


Not just a minor pain!

Although all OOS begin with a mild pain, what may appear minor discomfort at the beginning could later lead to:

young man at work experiencing shoulder pain due to muscle tear
  • Tiny muscle tears
  • Nerve damage due to compression
  • Abnormal posture
  • Abnormal muscle movement 
  • Premature degenerative changes


Are you at risk?

If your job entails too much of any of the following activities, you are at an increased risk of OOS:

young woman's hand typing, highlighted red color indicating pain due to excessive typing
  • Typing
  • Process work such as assembly line and packing
  • Sewing
  • Manual work 
  • Computer work


How can you prevent OOS?

Here are some easy ways to help you avoid OOS:

healthy young woman stretching in front of her laptop
  • Take regular stretching and walking breaks every half an hour.
  • Deep breathe or meditate for 5 minutes to relax.
  • Watch your posture and remain active.
  • Utilize all your tea, meal breaks and eat nutritious and balanced diet.
  • Try to take a break from the tasks that involve repeated movements.


A healthy lifestyle includes regular exercise, balanced diet, and sound sleep pattern, but most of us seldom make time to abide by this golden rule. In order to be able to enjoy the bliss of a healthy life, we simply need to remind ourselves of the long-term benefits of these corrective measures. Life will be much more easy and happy!



For any queries related to overall health, you can consult an Internal Medicine Specialist at www.healthcaremagic.com

About the Author

Vidhi Ghildiyal

Vidhi is a writer and blogger with more than 6 years of experience in developing content for varied verticals.


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