Many people still look for the old term “RSI,” while this name has now been replaced by CANS: Complaints of Arm, Neck or Shoulder. In practice, these are the same overuse complaints that can limit your daily activities. On this page you can read about how arm pain occurs, why it is often so persistent and how osteopathy can help with recovery.
What do we mean by arm complaints?
Arm complaints is a collective term for pain, stiffness, decreased strength or tingling in your arm, hand, wrist or elbow. Sometimes the pain originates locally, for example from an irritated tendon, but often arm pain turns out to be part of a larger pattern. Overuse, prolonged the same posture, stress or repetitive movements play an important role. That is exactly why arm problems used to be known as RSI: repetitive strain injury.
The modern term CANS emphasizes that these are broad patterns of symptoms involving muscles, tendons, connective tissue, nerves and sometimes even blood flow. The cause is rarely one structure; it is a sum of factors. Osteopathy fits in well with this because your body is viewed as a whole.
How do CANS or RSI-like arm complaints occur?
In your daily life, you ask a lot of your arms. Think typing, computer work, lifting, cycling, playing sports or maintaining the same posture for long periods of time. When your body’s load capacity is lower than the load placed on it, irritation can occur. This often starts subtly: a nagging pain, sensitivity on exertion or fatigue in your forearm.
If the cause persists, the tension in your muscles and connective tissue can increase. Blood flow decreases, waste products accumulate and nerves can become more sensitive. As a result, you may suffer from:
- pain or stiffness in forearm or upper arm
- pain in wrist, hand or fingers
- radiating pain towards neck or shoulder
- a heavy feeling in your arm
- tingling or deafness
- reduced stamina
Sometimes the complaint seems to come out of nowhere, but often it is a result of months of repetitive strain. Stress or high work pressure can also aggravate arm pain because it affects your muscle tension and breathing.
The relationship between arm, neck and shoulder
Although you feel arm pain in your arm, the origin is frequently in your neck, ribs or shoulder girdle. The nerves going to your arm all come from your neck. When there is tension or loss of movement there, it can amplify or even cause symptoms in your arm.
In addition, the muscles around your shoulder blade play a big role. If these don’t work well together, your arm will undergo extra strain. That explains why many people only feel relief when not only the arm, but also the entire shoulder region is treated.
How does osteopathy work for arm complaints?
As an osteopath, I always look at the whole. Arm problems are rarely just an arm problem; they provide information about how your body is functioning as a whole. Therefore, I examine not only your arm, but also neck, shoulders, ribs and sometimes even your back or breathing.
During a treatment, I focus on:
- improve circulation in arm, shoulder and neck
- reduce muscle tension and irritation of tendons
- Optimize nerve conduction towards the arm
- moving joints that are stuck or moving less freely
- Restoring balance between load and relaxation
The treatment is always tailored to what you need. The techniques are generally gentle and responsible, even when you are in a lot of pain or have been experiencing symptoms for a long time.
Why do arm problems sometimes last so long?
That’s because the cause is often more complex than the pain area itself. Your arm can become overloaded because your shoulders are tense, your neck is not moving enough, your breathing is high or your stress level is elevated. Disrupted muscle cooperation around the shoulder blade can also reduce the strength in your arm.
If these factors are not addressed, the pain can keep coming back. Osteopathy helps to understand and treat this bigger picture so that your arm complaints can improve structurally.
What can you do yourself for arm complaints?
In addition to treatment, there are practical steps you can take to support recovery:
- take frequent short breaks
- vary your posture, especially when doing computer work
- pay attention to breathing and relaxation
- Avoid pinching or applying excessive force
- work with a relaxed shoulder position
- build up load slowly
Together we will discuss what works best for you and how you can get back to your daily activities in a healthy way.
Osteopath Amsterdam (West)
Do you experience arm complaints or recognize CANS or RSI-like symptoms? Then osteopathy can help you find insight and recovery. In my practice in Amsterdam West we look beyond just the pain location, so that you not only become symptom free, but also stay symptom free.
Want to know what osteopathy can do for you?
Contact us or schedule an appointment right away.
