Repetitive stress injuries are a part of life for many Arizona residents. From athletes to office workers, just about anyone can experience an overuse injury. You’re at risk if you engage in an activity that exposes your ligaments, bones, muscles and tendons to repetitive stress. When you identify your high-risk activities, you can take protective measures.

Improper technique during physical activity

Engaging in a sport without the proper equipment or physical form can lead to repetitive stress injuries. Your ligaments, muscles and bones are possibly unprepared for the demands of the sport. When you lack the proper equipment or use bad form, you place your body under additional stress.

You might expect to find this in sports, but it can also occur in a typical workplace environment. For example, bad form while typing can cause a repetitive stress injury in your hands. And warehouse workers often get overuse injuries that affect the shoulders, arms, back and neck.

Engaging in one activity without a break

Too much of a good thing can cause a repetitive stress injury. For example, you might practice a sport for several hours without a break. Or perhaps your job requires physical activity, and you increase your workload to finish your shift faster. Your body needs time to recover from physical activity. If you don’t allow your body time to recover, you can develop an overuse injury.

Recognizing overuse injuries

Some common repetitive stress injuries include shin splints, bursitis and Achilles tendonitis. The pain might start in a specific area and worsen as you move around. Eventually, the pain might affect you even when you’re not engaged in physical activity.