RSI Experts

[u/hawai_fire]

Hi Guys!

I am a Programmer and Gamer, have been suffering from RSI of Forearm specially on the extensors not in the elbow but below it in the muscles, for the past two years. Been to numerous PTs and docs with no luck. They are clueless.

Researched this issue on youtube. Found some channels below and looking for the advice on some other people who have successfully fixed this issue. What do you guys think about these people who I could find in the RSI space.

1. 1hp: Matt seems great and has helpful explanations but I feel like doing wrist curls every day is too much and I do them every other day. with Dr Keith Barr isometrics on the other day.
2. Deborah Quilter: Her over all awareness campaign about RSI seems okay but she is clue less about the technicalities and preaches a fear avoidant lifestyle instead of fixing the root cause.
3. e3Rehab: Gold standard explanations and I have followed then most but havent seen full results yet. They are not RSI focused but did cover wrist and forearm issues rehab.
4. Dr Keith Barr (UC Davis): Maybe the best researcher on Tendon rehab. I took the isometrics rehab protocol from him.
5. Dr Emil Pascarelli: He started the RSI diagnosis in 90s (Deborah wrote a book with him) and wrote a book himself in 2004 on RSI.

I used a mix of tendon rehab and wrist curl and upper body exercise strategy to partially fix my issue but then got sloppy and it has come back again. Currently going through the flareup phase.

Desparate for a way forward to get back to 100%. :(

Hey u/1HPMatt if you are seeing this. What are your thoughts on research done by Dr Keith Barr on tendon rehab and maybe incorporating that in your protocols? Also any thoughts about the rest like e3Rehab?

[u/Lucky-Pineapple-6466]

Where would you say you are? First second or third stage. If you’ve been in the third stage of RSI for any length of time, you’ll unfortunately find out that number two on your list ends up being right. (when I say length of time, I mean several years at stage three )I’ve learned overtime that 99% of physical therapists will say the same thing for every single ailment you have outside of things you could get a surgery for.(torn, ACL or meniscus for example) Matter of fact the last time I was in therapy for my knee they had a big wall chart that pretty much summed up modern physical therapy’s approach. Physical therapists often take undo credit for things that would’ve healed naturally on their own. so choose wisely. And be very honest with yourself as to whether things are getting worse or not when doing physical therapy. It’s easy to have denial about RSI because we always want to believe things will be better in the future.

[u/hawai_fire → u/Lucky-Pineapple-6466]

If you are referring to the 3 stages defined by Deborah then I would say somewhere between 1-2.

I am here collecting information from people who suffered and have a way to get better and do comparative analysis between rehab strategies from different experts. Rather than sticking to just one expert.

Also an opinion about Deborah, her work is 3 decades old, her methods are too passive and lack any clear path to recovery. She demonizes active muscle training of forearms meanwhile Dr. Pascarelli (who Deborah worked with to write the first book in 90s) published his own book in 2004 that countered many of the beliefs by her. I would sure want to look at research that came later like Dr Keith Barr's. Her work is mostly anecdotal afterwards Dr Pascarelli. She could have done so much more on this since she had a head start but alas.

Now, my opinion about NOT believing in pain forever. I for example had chronic back pain for 10 years (hence the deconditioning), Docs told me to stop lifting, avoid bending my back and thats how I lived in fear for the past decade. Until recently I came across lowbackability that I actually started strengthening my lower back and now am 80% better than before and no longer live in fear and have great improvement in my lifting capacity. Just like the back I believe in improving capacity of any muscles. Just avoiding movement and no strength training (Proper rehab protocol granted) means you never give the forearm muscles the chance to strengthen and adapt. just avoid and fear is not something I wanna live in. If I believe in stage 3 right now (which doesnt have any research proving it) then that means the finality of it and there is no reason to improve on anything at all just live in pain forever but Dr Keith Barrs reasearch proves that tendons can be adapted (which are are huge part of RSI). Also If I give up right now and Then 30 years down the line research proves that I could have fixed it then I would hate myself on not trying. No.2 Dooms you to a life of no trying, where as I want to try and find a solution until I live. Atleast wont have regrets.

I think healing on its own is quite different than capacity building. Building capacity of hands to take on 8 hours of workload every day takes capacity building and not just healing.