ABSTRACT
Repetitive motion injuries are serious medical problems. People who incur them might experience intense pain and be disabled for long periods of time, if not permanently. The injuries are usually the gradually intensifying result of performing the same physical movements over and over again. In addition to intense pain, carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms include finger tingling and numbness, reduced range of hand and finger motion, and reduced ability to apply force with the hand. Reducing the risk of repetitive motion injuries sometimes means changing how people work, such as rotating manual tasks so that workers are not performing the same task for long periods of time. Demographic and physical characteristics can make a product’s users particularly vulnerable to repetitive motion injuries. Product developers might assume that automation requires the use of robotics and artificial intelligence, but sometimes, simple automation mechanisms can provide significant safety benefits.
