Damaged senseless

The first concrete evidence that repetitive strain injury (RSI) is caused by damage to sensory nerves by has been reported by researchers at the University of London, UK. This study shows a quantitative sensory deficit in patients with RSI. Jane Greening and her team used a 100-hertz vibrameter to obtain threshold vibrations for the nerves of hands and arms of 17 patients whose jobs involved intensive keyboarding. Patients and office workers showed clear signs of sensory loss consistent with nerve damage ( International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health , Vol 71, No 1).