--- title: "Repetitive Stress Prevention and Treatment | Sutter Health" description: "I sit hunched up at a computer all day, and my shoulders and elbows are really starting to ache. Is there anything I can do, other than just taking a break, to help prevent this pain?" url: "/ask-an-expert/answers/repetitive-stress-prevention-treatment-1051061320" --- 1. Home / 2. Repetitive Stress Prevention and Treatment # Repetitive Stress Prevention and Treatment * * * Medically reviewed by - James D. Kelly, M.D. ## Question I sit hunched up at a computer all day, and my shoulders and elbows are really starting to ache. Is there anything I can do, other than just taking a break, to help prevent this pain? ## Answer This type of pain is usually caused by repetitive use, so called repetitive stress. We don't have a physiologic explanation for it. The location of pain is usually normal on imaging studies. The pain is related, as the name implies, to using the same muscles in the same way, over and over. The best first step is to address your concern with your employer. They should first try to optimize your work space so that your seat, desk, keyboard and screen work well for you. If that doesn't work, an occupational therapist or ergonomic specialist can be called in and can make additional work space suggestions and design some exercises for you. If the problem persists, you may be referred to an occupational physician specialist. ## Explore related topics Bones, joints and muscles ## Meet our care team James D. Kelly, M.D. Orthopedic Surgery ## Related questions View all questions - Health Q&A ### ACL Tear or Arthritis in Knee? I had an X-ray and MRI on my right knee for severe pain. The radiologist said there was an ACL tear, but my doctor attributed it to arthritis. I don't have swelling and the pain is intermittent. 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View all questions ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/repetitive-stress-prevention-treatment-1051061320#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Repetitive Stress Prevention and Treatment"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/repetitive-stress-prevention-treatment-1051061320#medicalwebpage","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/repetitive-stress-prevention-treatment-1051061320","name":"Repetitive Stress Prevention and Treatment","description":"This type of pain is usually caused by repetitive use, so called repetitive stress.","inLanguage":"en-US","medicalAudience":{"@type":"MedicalAudience","audienceType":"Patient"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/repetitive-stress-prevention-treatment-1051061320#breadcrumblist"},"mainEntity":{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/repetitive-stress-prevention-treatment-1051061320#question","name":"Repetitive Stress Prevention and Treatment","text":"I sit hunched up at a computer all day, and my shoulders and elbows are really starting to ache. 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