{"dataset":{"name":"Prevalence of repetitive strain and computer-related pain","title":"Repetitive Strain Injury Statistics: How Common Is RSI","question":"How common are repetitive strain injuries and hand, wrist, arm and neck pain among computer users and workers?","url":"https://yapapp.cc/data/rsi-prevalence","measure":{"label":"Prevalence","unit":"percent","short":"%","decimals":1},"dimensions":[{"key":"condition","label":"Condition","values":["Hand, wrist or arm symptoms","Carpal tunnel syndrome","Neck or shoulder symptoms","Any musculoskeletal symptoms","Work-related musculoskeletal disorders","Other"]},{"key":"population","label":"Who"},{"key":"period","label":"Period","values":["Past 12 months","Point (now)","Past week or month","Lifetime","Not stated"]},{"key":"country","label":"Country"},{"key":"n","label":"People"},{"key":"year","label":"Year"}],"include":"Prevalence of upper-body musculoskeletal symptoms or diagnoses (hand, wrist, arm, neck, shoulder; carpal tunnel syndrome) in a stated population: computer users and office workers first, other working populations, and the general adult population as a reference. From peer-reviewed studies, systematic reviews and national statistics, with the population and period stated.","exclude":"Incidence rates per person-years (a different measure), shares of cases rather than of people (\"41 percent of reported disorders affect the upper limbs\"), prevalence of a symptom among patients who already have another condition, and test accuracy figures.","method":"Rows come from the facts already cited across the library and from a structured search of occupational health research (OpenAlex and Semantic Scholar). Each figure is stored as a fact with the exact words of its source, checked automatically against the live page.","limitations":"Definitions, populations and periods differ widely between studies, so the medians show a typical reported figure, not a rate for any one group.","sources":9,"updated":"2026-10-19","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","credit":"Yap (2026). Prevalence of repetitive strain and computer-related pain [Data set]. https://yapapp.cc/data/rsi-prevalence"},"rows":[{"row":"Meems et al. 2015, pregnancy","value":34,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"34","unit":"percent","condition":"Carpal tunnel syndrome","population":"Pregnant women, Dutch prospective cohort","period":null,"country":"Netherlands","n":639,"year":2015,"conversion":null,"claim":"In a Dutch cohort of 639 pregnant women, 34 percent reported carpal tunnel symptoms during pregnancy.","quote":"Of the 639 women, 219 (34%) reported CTS symptoms during pregnancy.","where_in_source":"Results","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/meems-2015-pregnancy-cts-34-percent","source_title":"Prevalence, course and determinants of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms during pregnancy: a prospective study","source_publisher":"BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology","source_year":"2015","source_url":"https://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/efetch.fcgi?db=pubmed&id=25778497&rettype=abstract&retmode=text","source_doi":"10.1111/1471-0528.13360","checked":"2026-10-16"},{"row":"NIOSH 2013, pooled US worker cohorts","value":7.8,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"7.8","unit":"percent","condition":"Carpal tunnel syndrome","population":"US working populations, six pooled prospective studies at enrollment","period":"Point (now)","country":"United States","n":4321,"year":2013,"conversion":null,"claim":"In a NIOSH pooled analysis of six prospective studies of US working populations, 7.8 percent of 4,321 enrolled workers met the shared case definition for carpal tunnel syndrome at enrollment.","quote":"At the time of enrollment, 7.8% of 4321 subjects met our case definition","where_in_source":"Abstract","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/niosh-2013-pooled-cts-prevalence-7-8-percent","source_title":"Prevalence and incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in US working populations: pooled analysis of six prospective studies","source_publisher":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC Stacks)","source_year":"2013","source_url":"https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/194524","source_doi":null,"checked":"2026-10-19"},{"row":"NIOSH 2013, US workers 2010, lifetime","value":6.7,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"6.7","unit":"percent","condition":"Carpal tunnel syndrome","population":"Current or recent US workers, NHIS 2010 occupational health supplement","period":"Lifetime","country":"United States","n":17524,"year":2010,"conversion":null,"claim":"In the 2010 National Health Interview Survey, the lifetime prevalence of clinician-diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome among current or recent US workers was 6.7 percent.","quote":"The overall lifetime prevalence of clinician-diagnosed CTS among current/recent workers was 6.7%","where_in_source":"Abstract","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/niosh-2013-cts-nhis-2010-lifetime-6-7-percent","source_title":"Prevalence and work-relatedness of carpal tunnel syndrome in the working population, United States, 2010","source_publisher":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC Stacks)","source_year":"2013","source_url":"https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/193500","source_doi":null,"checked":"2026-10-19"},{"row":"NIOSH NHIS 2015, US workers, ever","value":6.05,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"6.1","unit":"percent","condition":"Carpal tunnel syndrome","population":"US workers, NHIS 2015 occupational health supplement","period":"Lifetime","country":"United States","n":null,"year":2015,"conversion":null,"claim":"In the 2015 National Health Interview Survey Occupational Health Supplement, the unadjusted prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome ever diagnosed among US workers was 6.05 percent, with a 95 percent confidence interval of 5.58 to 6.56 percent.","quote":"Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (ever) 145,769,000 8,821,000 6.05 5.58 6.56","where_in_source":"Unadjusted Prevalence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (NHIS 2015) Among Workers table","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/niosh-nhis-2015-cts-ever-workers-6-05-percent","source_title":"Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (NHIS 2015) Charts, NIOSH Worker Health Charts","source_publisher":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health","source_year":"2015","source_url":"https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NIOSH-WHC/chart/ohs-cts/illness","source_doi":null,"checked":"2026-10-19"},{"row":"Shiri et al. 2009, women","value":5.3,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"5.3","unit":"percent","condition":"Carpal tunnel syndrome","population":"Women aged 30 and over, Finnish population sample","period":"Not stated","country":"Finland","n":6254,"year":2000,"conversion":"Women's figure of possible or probable CTS on examination. n is the whole sample of 6,254 adults (the women's count is not given). Collected 2000 to 2001; the first year is recorded.","claim":"In a Finnish population sample aged 30 and over, possible or probable carpal tunnel syndrome was found in 5.3 percent of women and 2.1 percent of men.","quote":"The prevalence of possible or probable CTS was 2.1% in men and 5.3% in women.","where_in_source":"Results","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/shiri-2009-cts-prevalence-women-5-3-percent","source_title":"Physical work load factors and carpal tunnel syndrome: a population-based study","source_publisher":"Occupational and Environmental Medicine","source_year":"2009","source_url":"https://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/efetch.fcgi?db=pubmed&id=19451144&rettype=abstract&retmode=text","source_doi":"10.1136/oem.2008.039719","checked":"2026-10-16"},{"row":"NIOSH 2013, US workers 2010, 12 months","value":3.1,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"3.1","unit":"percent","condition":"Carpal tunnel syndrome","population":"Current or recent US workers, NHIS 2010 occupational health supplement","period":"Past 12 months","country":"United States","n":17524,"year":2010,"conversion":null,"claim":"In the 2010 National Health Interview Survey, the 12-month prevalence of clinician-diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome among current or recent US workers was 3.1 percent, about 4.8 million workers.","quote":"The 12-month prevalence was 3.1%, representing approximately 4.8 million workers with current CTS","where_in_source":"Abstract","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/niosh-2013-cts-nhis-2010-12-month-3-1-percent","source_title":"Prevalence and work-relatedness of carpal tunnel syndrome in the working population, United States, 2010","source_publisher":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC Stacks)","source_year":"2013","source_url":"https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/193500","source_doi":null,"checked":"2026-10-19"},{"row":"Wiberg et al. 2022, UK Biobank","value":3.1,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"3.1","unit":"percent","condition":"Carpal tunnel syndrome","population":"UK Biobank volunteer cohort","period":"Not stated","country":"United Kingdom","n":401656,"year":2022,"conversion":null,"claim":"In UK Biobank, 12,312 of 401,656 participants had carpal tunnel syndrome, a prevalence of 3.1 percent.","quote":"There were 12,312 CTS cases within the curated UK Biobank dataset of 401,656 (3.1% prevalence)","where_in_source":"Results","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/wiberg-2022-uk-biobank-cts-prevalence-3-1-percent","source_title":"Replication of epidemiological associations of carpal tunnel syndrome in a UK population-based cohort of over 400,000 people","source_publisher":"Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery","source_year":"2022","source_url":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8982328/","source_doi":"10.1016/j.bjps.2021.11.025","checked":"2026-10-16"},{"row":"JAMA 1999, southern Sweden","value":2.7,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"2.7","unit":"percent","condition":"Carpal tunnel syndrome","population":"Adults aged 25 to 74, random sample, southern Sweden","period":"Not stated","country":"Sweden","n":2466,"year":1997,"conversion":null,"claim":"In a random sample of 2,466 adults aged 25 to 74 in southern Sweden, 2.7% had carpal tunnel syndrome confirmed both by clinical examination and by nerve conduction testing.","quote":"Sixty-six symptomatic subjects had clinically and electrophysiologically confirmed CTS (prevalence, 2.7%; 95% CI, 2.1%-3.4%).","where_in_source":"Abstract, Results","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/cts-prevalence-2-7-percent-sweden","source_title":"Prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in a general population","source_publisher":"JAMA","source_year":"1999","source_url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10411196/","source_doi":"10.1001/jama.282.2.153","checked":"2026-10-16"},{"row":"NIOSH NHIS 2015, US workers, current","value":2.67,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"2.7","unit":"percent","condition":"Carpal tunnel syndrome","population":"US workers, NHIS 2015 occupational health supplement","period":"Point (now)","country":"United States","n":null,"year":2015,"conversion":null,"claim":"In the 2015 National Health Interview Survey Occupational Health Supplement, the unadjusted prevalence of current carpal tunnel syndrome among US workers was 2.67 percent, with a 95 percent confidence interval of 2.40 to 2.97 percent.","quote":"Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (current) 145,752,000 3,890,000 2.67 2.40 2.97","where_in_source":"Unadjusted Prevalence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (NHIS 2015) Among Workers table","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/niosh-nhis-2015-cts-current-workers-2-67-percent","source_title":"Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (NHIS 2015) Charts, NIOSH Worker Health Charts","source_publisher":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health","source_year":"2015","source_url":"https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NIOSH-WHC/chart/ohs-cts/illness","source_doi":null,"checked":"2026-10-19"},{"row":"NIOSH 1995, US workers 1988, self-report","value":1.74,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"1.7","unit":"percent","condition":"Carpal tunnel syndrome","population":"Recent US workers, 1988 NHIS occupational health supplement, self-reported","period":"Not stated","country":"United States","n":null,"year":1988,"conversion":null,"claim":"In the 1988 National Health Interview Survey occupational health supplement, 1.74 percent of recent US workers reported carpal tunnel syndrome.","quote":"A nonsignificant difference was observed in the prevalence of self reported CTS in recent workers (1.74%)","where_in_source":"Abstract","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/niosh-1995-cts-self-reported-workers-1-74-percent","source_title":"Prevalence and work-relatedness of self-reported carpal tunnel syndrome among U.S. workers","source_publisher":"American Journal of Industrial Medicine (NIOSH authors, CDC Stacks)","source_year":"1995","source_url":"https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/205395","source_doi":null,"checked":"2026-10-19"},{"row":"HSE 2025, skilled trades","value":2.63,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"2.6","unit":"percent","condition":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders","population":"Skilled trades occupations, Great Britain","period":"Not stated","country":"Great Britain","n":null,"year":2024,"conversion":"HSE gives the rate per 100,000 workers, averaged over 2022/23 to 2024/25. 2,630 per 100,000 is 2.63 percent.","claim":"In Great Britain, skilled trades occupations had a rate of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of 2,630 per 100,000 workers, or 2.63 percent, averaged over 2022/23 to 2024/25.","quote":"For the three-year period 2022/23-2024/25, Skilled trades occupations (2,630 per 100,000 workers), Caring, leisure and other service occupations (1,640 per 100,000 workers), Process, plant and machine operatives (2,470 per 100,000 workers), Elementary occupations (1,730 per 100,000 workers) had statistically significantly higher rates","where_in_source":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders by occupation, page 13","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/hse-2025-msd-rate-skilled-trades-2630-gb","source_title":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders statistics in Great Britain, 2025","source_publisher":"Health and Safety Executive (HSE)","source_year":"2025","source_url":"https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/msd.pdf","source_doi":null,"checked":"2026-10-19"},{"row":"HSE 2025, process and plant","value":2.47,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"2.5","unit":"percent","condition":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders","population":"Process, plant and machine operatives, Great Britain","period":"Not stated","country":"Great Britain","n":null,"year":2024,"conversion":"HSE gives the rate per 100,000 workers, averaged over 2022/23 to 2024/25. 2,470 per 100,000 is 2.47 percent.","claim":"In Great Britain, process, plant and machine operatives had a rate of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of 2,470 per 100,000 workers, or 2.47 percent, averaged over 2022/23 to 2024/25.","quote":"For the three-year period 2022/23-2024/25, Skilled trades occupations (2,630 per 100,000 workers), Caring, leisure and other service occupations (1,640 per 100,000 workers), Process, plant and machine operatives (2,470 per 100,000 workers), Elementary occupations (1,730 per 100,000 workers) had statistically significantly higher rates","where_in_source":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders by occupation, page 13","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/hse-2025-msd-rate-process-plant-2470-gb","source_title":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders statistics in Great Britain, 2025","source_publisher":"Health and Safety Executive (HSE)","source_year":"2025","source_url":"https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/msd.pdf","source_doi":null,"checked":"2026-10-19"},{"row":"HSE 2025, construction","value":2,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"2","unit":"percent","condition":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders","population":"Workers in construction, Great Britain","period":"Not stated","country":"Great Britain","n":null,"year":2024,"conversion":"HSE gives the rate per 100,000 workers, averaged over 2022/23 to 2024/25. 2,000 per 100,000 is 2.0 percent.","claim":"In Great Britain, the rate of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in construction was 2,000 per 100,000 workers, or 2.0 percent, a significantly higher rate than the average for all industries.","quote":"The broad industry categories of Construction (2,000 per 100,000 workers), Transportation and storage (1,800 per 100,000 workers), Administrative and support service activities (1,700 per 100,000 workers) all had significantly higher rates than the average for all industries","where_in_source":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders by industry, page 12","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/hse-2025-msd-rate-construction-2000-gb","source_title":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders statistics in Great Britain, 2025","source_publisher":"Health and Safety Executive (HSE)","source_year":"2025","source_url":"https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/msd.pdf","source_doi":null,"checked":"2026-10-19"},{"row":"HSE 2025, transport and storage","value":1.8,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"1.8","unit":"percent","condition":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders","population":"Workers in transportation and storage, Great Britain","period":"Not stated","country":"Great Britain","n":null,"year":2024,"conversion":"HSE gives the rate per 100,000 workers, averaged over 2022/23 to 2024/25. 1,800 per 100,000 is 1.8 percent.","claim":"In Great Britain, the rate of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in transportation and storage was 1,800 per 100,000 workers, or 1.8 percent, a significantly higher rate than the average for all industries.","quote":"The broad industry categories of Construction (2,000 per 100,000 workers), Transportation and storage (1,800 per 100,000 workers), Administrative and support service activities (1,700 per 100,000 workers) all had significantly higher rates than the average for all industries","where_in_source":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders by industry, page 12","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/hse-2025-msd-rate-transport-storage-1800-gb","source_title":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders statistics in Great Britain, 2025","source_publisher":"Health and Safety Executive (HSE)","source_year":"2025","source_url":"https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/msd.pdf","source_doi":null,"checked":"2026-10-19"},{"row":"HSE 2025, elementary occupations","value":1.73,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"1.7","unit":"percent","condition":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders","population":"Elementary occupations, Great Britain","period":"Not stated","country":"Great Britain","n":null,"year":2024,"conversion":"HSE gives the rate per 100,000 workers, averaged over 2022/23 to 2024/25. 1,730 per 100,000 is 1.73 percent.","claim":"In Great Britain, elementary occupations had a rate of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of 1,730 per 100,000 workers, or 1.73 percent, averaged over 2022/23 to 2024/25.","quote":"For the three-year period 2022/23-2024/25, Skilled trades occupations (2,630 per 100,000 workers), Caring, leisure and other service occupations (1,640 per 100,000 workers), Process, plant and machine operatives (2,470 per 100,000 workers), Elementary occupations (1,730 per 100,000 workers) had statistically significantly higher rates","where_in_source":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders by occupation, page 13","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/hse-2025-msd-rate-elementary-1730-gb","source_title":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders statistics in Great Britain, 2025","source_publisher":"Health and Safety Executive (HSE)","source_year":"2025","source_url":"https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/msd.pdf","source_doi":null,"checked":"2026-10-19"},{"row":"HSE 2025, admin and support","value":1.7,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"1.7","unit":"percent","condition":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders","population":"Workers in administrative and support service activities, Great Britain","period":"Not stated","country":"Great Britain","n":null,"year":2024,"conversion":"HSE gives the rate per 100,000 workers, averaged over 2022/23 to 2024/25. 1,700 per 100,000 is 1.7 percent.","claim":"In Great Britain, the rate of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in administrative and support service activities was 1,700 per 100,000 workers, or 1.7 percent, a significantly higher rate than the average for all industries.","quote":"The broad industry categories of Construction (2,000 per 100,000 workers), Transportation and storage (1,800 per 100,000 workers), Administrative and support service activities (1,700 per 100,000 workers) all had significantly higher rates than the average for all industries","where_in_source":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders by industry, page 12","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/hse-2025-msd-rate-admin-support-1700-gb","source_title":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders statistics in Great Britain, 2025","source_publisher":"Health and Safety Executive (HSE)","source_year":"2025","source_url":"https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/msd.pdf","source_doi":null,"checked":"2026-10-19"},{"row":"HSE 2025, caring and leisure","value":1.64,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"1.6","unit":"percent","condition":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders","population":"Caring, leisure and other service occupations, Great Britain","period":"Not stated","country":"Great Britain","n":null,"year":2024,"conversion":"HSE gives the rate per 100,000 workers, averaged over 2022/23 to 2024/25. 1,640 per 100,000 is 1.64 percent.","claim":"In Great Britain, caring, leisure and other service occupations had a rate of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of 1,640 per 100,000 workers, or 1.64 percent, averaged over 2022/23 to 2024/25.","quote":"For the three-year period 2022/23-2024/25, Skilled trades occupations (2,630 per 100,000 workers), Caring, leisure and other service occupations (1,640 per 100,000 workers), Process, plant and machine operatives (2,470 per 100,000 workers), Elementary occupations (1,730 per 100,000 workers) had statistically significantly higher rates","where_in_source":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders by occupation, page 13","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/hse-2025-msd-rate-caring-leisure-1640-gb","source_title":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders statistics in Great Britain, 2025","source_publisher":"Health and Safety Executive (HSE)","source_year":"2025","source_url":"https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/msd.pdf","source_doi":null,"checked":"2026-10-19"},{"row":"HSE 2025, all GB workers","value":1.47,"low":null,"high":null,"as_written":"1.5","unit":"percent","condition":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders","population":"All workers in Great Britain","period":"Not stated","country":"Great Britain","n":null,"year":2024,"conversion":"HSE gives the rate per 100,000 workers. 1,470 per 100,000 is 1.47 percent.","claim":"In Great Britain in 2024/25, 1,470 work-related musculoskeletal disorders per 100,000 workers were self-reported, which is 1.47 percent of workers.","quote":"The total number of workers suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders in 2024/25 was 511,000, a prevalence rate of 1,470 per 100,000 workers","where_in_source":"Key estimates, page 6","fact_url":"https://yapapp.cc/facts/hse-2025-msd-rate-1470-per-100000-gb","source_title":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders statistics in Great Britain, 2025","source_publisher":"Health and Safety Executive (HSE)","source_year":"2025","source_url":"https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/msd.pdf","source_doi":null,"checked":"2026-10-19"}]}