I 'm not sure if this is what Tam is looking for but fits in with the topic of RSI and why it is not covered/studied more.
This is from Australia but the reasons fit world wide I'm sure.

[Why was the Australian RSI "epidemic" seen to disappear in the late 1980s?
Ann Thomson Director-
RSI & Overuse Injury Association of the ACT – Australia’s only remaining RSI support group]

http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache...&ct=clnk&gl=us