Abstract

MERLO, Álvaro Roberto Crespo; JACQUES, Maria da Graça Corrêa  and  HOEFEL, Maria da Graça Luderitz. Groups activity with repetitive strain injuries workers: experience report. Psicol. Reflex. Crit. [online]. 2001, vol.14, n.1, pp. 253-258. ISSN 0102-7972.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-79722001000100021.

This article presents and discusses the contributions of Psychology to the study of Repetitive Strain Injuries or Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders. It privileges the analysis of the work carried out, jointly, by a multidisciplinary team of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, the Medical School and the Institute of Psychology of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, done with groups presenting that disease. It starts from the assumption that the study of the relationship between health and work is an important area for the psychologist and that research papers are necessary, based on experience reports, which present, systematize and lay the foundation procedures, has allowed the individuals to decrease his/her culpability and reinforce his/her independence and autonomy, thus minimizing the psychological suffering associated to the chronic pain and limitations imposed by the disease.

Keywords : Repetitive strain injuries; work related illnesses; groups discussion.