Cumulative Trauma Disorder

Cumulative trauma disorder is a broad category that includes many conditions and diseases that affect the soft tissues of the body. Cumulative trauma in itself is not a disease. Sports medicine specialists use the term to explain what may have caused, or contributed to, certain conditions in athletes. Examples of the conditions that may be caused or aggravated by cumulative trauma include tendonitis, pulled muscles, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and low back pain.

Other terms are often used to describe the concept of cumulative trauma disorder. These include repetitive stress injury (RSI), overuse strain (OS), and occupational overuse syndrome (OOS). We refer to these terms as cumulative trauma disorder or CTD.

What causes Cumulative Trauma Disorder?

Cumulative trauma disorder takes into account the multifactorial nature of sports injuries, including the internal and external risk factors that athletes are exposed to. Here are some of the potential factors that cause cumulative trauma disorder:

• overuse
• muscle tension
• sports equipment
• psychosocial factors
• mind-body interaction
• environmental conditions

Overuse

Using muscles and joints after they have become fatigued, or overly tired, increases the likelihood of injury. Overloaded muscles and soft tissues without proper rest have no chance to recover fully. This problem often hampers athletes who have to throw, jump, or run repeatedly. It can also affect body builders who repeat the same motions again and again, when lifting weights. In fact, improper weight lifting is a common cause of cumulative trauma disorder.

All body tissues are in a constant state of change. Minor damage occurs continuously, which the body must repair in the normal course of a day. But the damage can occur faster than the repair mechanisms can keep up with it. When this happens, the tissues become weaker. They may begin to hurt. The weaker the tissues become, the more likely they will suffer even more damage. The affects of overuse are cumulative. Unless the body tissues are allowed sufficient time to heal, an injury will occur.

Muscle Tension

Muscle tension contributes to the development of cumulative trauma disorder. To function, or work properly, the muscles need a steady supply of blood, rich in oxygen and nutrients. Excessive muscle tension can slow or cut off the blood supply, making the muscle tissues more vulnerable to strains, pulls, and tears.

Tense muscles can actually squeeze off their own flow of energy and fuel. Muscles can get energy without oxygen, but the process produces a chemical called lactic acid. This can be a potent, damaging chemical. Lactic acid is a chemical that can produce a burning feeling when muscles are overexercised. Some physicians believe that lactic acid produced by tense muscles may cause some of the symptoms of cumulative trauma disorder.