Further investigations pointed to RSI that was the result of unsupervised use of gadgets such as video game consoles, television remote and mobile phones. “Once these children were treated, I found a lot of referrals from parents and relatives of these children, most of whom happened to be IT professionals,” says Dr Sharan.
Since then RECOUP has set up six rehabilitation centres in Bangalore and one each in Hyderabad, Pune and New Delhi where over half of the patients treated are from the IT sector and have been injured within one year of taking on a computer-dependent job.
Typically, 30 out of 100 such patients seek specialized help after they have been misdiagnosed with ailments such as spondylitis, slipped disc, arthritis or stress.
“Any pain or discomfort while working is potentially serious and expert help must be sought as soon as possible, preferably at an on-site RSI clinic,” says Dr Sharan, adding that RSI injuries have to be treated in conjunction with modifications to workplace ergonomics.
What an employer could do
In developed markets in the West, every $1 invested in an effective ergonomics programme has provided a return on investment of $1, according to industry watchers. Employers who are cognizant of the potential loss in productivity from work-related RSI are ensuring that employees have facilities to alleviate the problem.
At Oracle India, a comprehensive ergonomic facility was set up for employees two years ago. “While there is no specific profile of employees affected by RSI, we look at proactively resolving any potential health hazard that an employee could face,” says Allen Matthew, vice-president, human resources (HR), Oracle India. Ergonomic facilities at Oracle include consultation and physiotherapy.
In addition, all offices are equipped with high-back chairs with adjustable elbow rests and seats for full back and elbow support. “Our HR practices are designed to help sensitize our employees about the possibility of RSI, right from the time they join us,” says Matthew.
Oracle India also works in tandem with RECOUP to provide employees non-surgical interventions to arrest problems associated with RSI.
Central to effective RSI prevention is workplace assessments for employees based on individual specifications.
RECOUP sends its workplace assessment personnel to more than 70 companies across the country. Once a patient’s work environment is evaluated, suitable changes are recommended to prevent further injury.
At Sterling Commerce, an AT&T company, the 540 employees across its two centres in Bangalore have fitness sessions orchestrated by an RSI consultant right within their work areas. Groups of 15–20 employees are encouraged to stretch, bend and tweak their muscles in short breaks from work. The full ergonomic package at Sterling Commerce includes both physiotherapy sessions as well as work station assessment. “Before we began offering a full ergonomic package, we would have employees who had to take a couple of weeks off due to RSI-related issues. The severity of the symptoms has reduced since then,” says Nisha Gopinath, senior manager, human resources, Sterling Commerce.
High incidence in India