Hairdressing may seem like a satisfying job. However, all the people who wish to become hairdressers or who already work as hairdressers must clearly understand all the hidden dangers associated with it.
Then you will be able to keep yourself safe from those dangers. One of the most significant risks that hairdressers will have to face is Repetitive Strain Injury. Keep on reading, and you will learn more about what this injury is all about. You can also understand the steps that you can follow to ensure your protection as a hairdresser.
What is Repetitive Strain Injury?
Repetitive Strain Injury is an injury that can affect the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system. When you keep on engaging with repetitive tasks, you can end up getting Repetitive Strain Injury. That's why you can consider this as an everyday health risk that all the hairdressers will have to be mindful of. Awkward positions, mechanical compression, and forceful vibrations are in a position to increase the risk of getting Repetitive Strain Injury.
Most hairdressers come across situations where they notice inflamed or irritated tendons. This can happen due to repetitive movement of the hands or awkward posture. On the other hand, we can also see carpal tunnel syndrome among most hairdressers out there. This happens due to the excessive pressure exerted on the nerves located in the wrist. It can be a painful health condition, which is associated with numbness.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms explained above, you will need to understand that you are at the risk of getting a Repetitive Strain Injury. Hence, you need to take a break from what you do.
Then you can inspect your ergonomics and make appropriate changes to the working conditions. This is something that you will need to do as soon as possible. By acting fast, you will keep the health condition from getting worse along with time.
How to avoid Repetitive Strain Injury?
There is no need to worry too much about Repetitive Strain Injury because there are some effective strategies available for you to follow and avoid. Let’s take a look at some of the best methods out of them to stay away from the risk associated with Repetitive Strain Injury.
As a hairdresser, you are encouraged to use sharp cutting scissors. If the scissors you have are equipped with blunt blades, you will have to spend more effort to offer the services to your clients. This will eventually lead you to stains. Hence, you need to keep an eye on the blades of your scissors and make sure that they are sharp at all times. We recommend you sharpen your scissors at least once a year. If you cannot sharpen the scissors, we highly encourage you to change the scissors and get new ones.
The scissors you use for hairdressing should also be in a position to deliver a comfortable experience to you at all times. This is another proven and effective method available for you to refrain from Repetitive Strain Injuries. A pair of scissors that deliver the perfect fit for your colleague cannot offer such a perfect fit for you. Hence, you should take a look at your specific needs and invest in the best scissor available in the market.
By following these simple steps, you can easily stay away from Repetitive Strain Injury. Then you will be able to continue working as a hairdresser, without having to worry about it.
Conclusion: what do hairdressers need to know about RSI?
Acute strain injuries (RSI) has become the bane in hairdressers' lives, mostly as a result that of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) it is an injury that is painful and can be very debilitating.
Making the right choice of tools is an important step to being able to avoid CTS and, since they are the most frequently and frequently used tools in the industry the scissors should be suitable for the person using them.
Carpal tunnels are the passageway created by eight of the bones in the wrist, and that transverse ligament, which runs across the roof of the tunnel. In the carpal tunnel are tendons that traverse the muscles of the forearm. They're used to bend the thumb and fingers.
The other nerve that runs in the tunnel, are also the median nerve. CTS happens in the case that the median nerve gets squeezed by swelling of tendons, resulting in the sensation of numbness, burning or tingling sensations in the thumb as well as certain fingers as well as other parts in the hands.
There are other reasons that can be a factor, however CTS is a result of work that require repetitive movement of the wrist and hand and cutting hair. Although it's not a guarantee to cure the condition picking the correct scissors is essential as each person will require a different method.
Top Tips For Avoiding RSI
- Sharp scissors are recommended - blunt blades take more effort and causes strain
- Sharpen your scissors at least every year
- Make sure that the scissors are at ease. Off-set scissors are able to provide the greatest comfort, but everybody is different.
- Make sure that the scissors are balanced in weight. A heavy pair of blades could put excessive strain on your wrist.
- Do not over-tighten all adjustable tension screws. If the scissors aren't cutting without getting tight, then they might require service.
Read more about RSI injuries and prevention for hairdressers:
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