Repetitive Strain Injury

Some hairdressers suffer from RSI because of reasons such as: repetitive use of hands, poor posture and using poorly designed scissors.

Symptoms usually occur in the hand(s) and/or wrist(s) and can include:

Pain, aching, pins and needles, tingling, burning, loss of movement, swelling, numbness, loss of strength.

Early reporting of any of these symptoms is imperative; therefore if you suspect that you may be suffering from RSI, you must visit your doctor.

Prevention

It is crucial that your scissors are adjusted to the correct tension at all times (see scissor advice section).

Protect your hands from exertion by ensuring that your scissors are regularly serviced.

There are many scissors on the market which can assist with hand problems, do not use opposite handle hairdressing scissors and look for ergonomic designs.

You should be cutting with a straight wrist. Swivel scissors can assist in keeping your wrist straight because the rotating thumb ring means that the scissors can be moved into different positions without awkward wrist movements. Offset scissors can also assist because this type of scissor does not force the thumb opposite the ring finger when closing and therefore allows the thumb more movement.