Body's Warning Signals Could Indicate Repetive Stress Injuries

Repetitive stress injury is notoriously hard to diagnose, a fact that has turned it into one of those is-it-or-isn't-it-type conditions whose existence is doubted.

But that may be about to change. I'm working today on a story for Wired News about a study that says doctors might be able to find "biomarkers" in people with repetitive motion injures. That could help confirm that patients have the condition or at least warn them to start watching their activities so things don't get worse:

The new study from Temple University senior researchers Ann Barr and Mary Barbe and their doctoral student, Stephen Carp, in the March issue of Clinical Science, found that the immune system pumps out biomarkers (different kinds of chemicals) as the body begins to become injured by repetitive motions. These biomarkers warn of an underlying problem.

“While not a diagnostic test, because the biomarkers could also indicate another type of injury, they do provide a red flag where before there was none,” said Barr, associate professor of physical therapy at Temple’s College of Health Professions.

Currently, healthcare providers can diagnose repetitive motion injuries (RMI) based only on physical examination findings and the symptoms reported by the patient.

Biomarkers warn of impending injury from repetitive motion [press release]