RSI can be caused by a number of factors. The common factor is excessive strain, e.g. having to work too much, too long without a break, with too much physical strain or under too much pressure. However, the set of risk factors will vary from person to person. It is therefore important for you to know where your own risks lie. In general, physical risk factors are seen as primary and essential factors for the diagnosis of RSI. This means that unless there is repetitive movement over a prolonged period of time, possibly involving physical strain, RSI symptoms will not occur.
There are three groups of factors that may determine whether you get RSI, make it worse or prevent recovery:
- personal factors
- environmental factors
- activity-related factors
1. Personal factors
RSI is known to be more common among women and young people. It is not exactly clear why this is. The following personal factors may also have a bearing on whether you get RSI:
• physique
• fitness
• conscientiousness
• the standards you set yourself at work
• the way you move
• how much exercise you get
• too many, or too few, social contacts
• perfectionism
2. Environmental factors
Pleasant, healthy work depends on having a good working environment. Adverse conditions such as too much sunlight, excessive noise, cold, draughts or the use of faulty equipment will affect your posture. A tense or cramped posture will quite simply restrict your circulation.
Other factors in your working environment are:
• cooperation with colleagues
• quality of management
• the 'culture' of the organisation
• how much say you have in your work
• work stress (deadlines)
• working too fast owing to pressure of work
• high physical and/or mental pressure
3. Activity-related factors
It is known that high strain over a short period, say several months, is more likely to cause symptoms than low strain over a longer period. The length of the working week also has an effect: a person who works 20-34
hours a week is one-and-a-half times as likely to get RSI as one who works less than 20 hours a week, and someone who works more than 35 hours a week is almost twice as likely to get it. It is also known that telecommuters are more likely to get RSI, because they use laptop computers more often or work longer without breaks than they would if they worked away from home. The likelihood of getting RSI also depends how long the repetitive movement lasts and how much physical strain is involved. Temporary workers are also at greater risk.
Activity-related factors that increase the risk of RSI are:
• high-precision movement
• lopsided movement
• static posture (working in one position for a long time)
• uncomfortable posture
• vibration
• activities that involve considerable physical strain
• lack of alternation with other activities
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About RSI 
