I would start with pubmed not google.

Very often RSI's are lumped in with other work related musculosketal disorders. You need to track the rise in WRMSD and the ratio of rsi's to total WRMSD separately. I would guess offhand the rsi's are the main cause of the rise of such MSD. Sometimes they track upper body injuries separately which also will give you a better idea of rsi's rates that rates for injuries anywhere on the body.

Current research is that about 70% of the rsi's are TOS but that research is generally only known to TOS specialists and would not be reflected in offical stats.

Austraila tracks rsi's bettter but they also have much better preventitive and rehab programs so the rates are much lower there.


Am J Ind Med. 1997 May;31(5):600-8.Click here to read Links
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders: comparison of data sources for surveillance.
Silverstein BA, Stetson DS, Keyserling WM, Fine LJ.

University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, USA.

Work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders "associated with repeated trauma" account for more than 60% of all newly reported occupational illness, 332,000 in 1994 according to the U.S. Department of Labor. These numbers do not include, for example, those disorders categorized as "injuries due to overexertion in lifting," approximately 370,000. Early identification of potential disorders and associated risk factors is needed to reduce these disorders. There are a number of possible methods for conducting surveillance for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMDs) based on health outcome: workers' compensation, sickness and accident insurance, OSHA 200 logs, plant medical records, self-administered questionnaires, professional interviews, and physical examinations. In addition, hazard surveillance based on evaluation of job exposures to physical stressors by nonoccupational health personnel is possible. As part of a large labor-management-initiated intervention study to reduce the incidence of WMDs in four automotive plants, we were able to compare the strengths and limitations of each of these surveillance tools. University administered health interviews yielded the highest rate of symptoms; combined physical examinations plus interview (point prevalence) rates were similar to self-administered questionnaires (period prevalence) rates. Plant medical records yielded the lowest rate of WMDs. WMD status on self-administered questionnaire and on physical examination were associated with risk factor exposure scores. This study suggests that symptoms questionnaires and checklist-based hazard surveillance are feasible within the context of joint labor-management ergonomics programs and are more sensitive indicators of ergonomic problems than pre-existing data sources.