And yes, it can get very serious. In Canada, MSIs cost billions of dollars annually in medical and Workers' Compensation costs. Women's hands, wrists, arms and shoulders are most likely to be affected, which interferes with their work in the home as well as in the workplace. While the majority of job-related MSIs occur in manufacturing or retail, a growing number are associated with computer use. Funny, most people recognize immediately how much daily life would be disrupted if our feet did not function.
Mainstream medicine offers few effective remedies .
Many MSI patients endure multiple surgeries, with varying degrees of success. Indeed, MSIs are so difficult to treat in the advanced stages, that most experts look to prevention through early detection and through ergonomics programs in the workplace . Ergonomics programs not only protect workers from injury, but often increase productivity as well. Yet many employers resist ergonomics, and fiercely oppose the idea of ergonomics regulations for occupational health and safety. An invaluable, wide ranging review of new and unsuspected hazards in our technological workplace.