International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day (February 28th, 2026)

Quick facts
When is it?	February 28th, 2025 February 28th, 2026 February 28th, 2027 February 29th, 2028
Tagged as:	Body & Health Life & Living
What's the hashtag?	#InternationalRepetitiveStrainInjuryAwarenessDay
When was it founded?	2000
Who founded it?	Catherine Fenech
We first published this page on:	Jul 27th, 2025
We last updated this page:	Jul 27th, 2025

Contents

Repetitive Strain Injury, or RSI, often starts quietly. A small ache in your wrist. A twinge in your shoulder. Maybe your fingers feel stiff after a long day.

This day exists to call attention to those signals.

It’s a wake-up call for anyone who works with their hands, types all day, or uses tools regularly. Movements that feel harmless can slowly wear down the body if repeated too often without rest or support.

People don’t always talk about this kind of pain, but it can change lives. RSI can make everyday tasks—buttoning a shirt, holding a mug, or carrying a bag—suddenly hard.

That’s why the day matters. It urges everyone to listen to their bodies and speak up before small strains become bigger problems.

It also pushes workplaces to create safer setups, so fewer people have to suffer in silence.

How to Celebrate Repetitive Strain Injury

Here are some friendly ideas for observing International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day:

Host a Stretch Break

Invite coworkers or friends to pause for a brief, guided stretching session. Use simple wrist, shoulder, and neck movements backed by physical therapy advice. Encourage everyone to set a stretch timer for later.

Audit Your Workspace

Check the desk, chair, keyboard, and mouse setup. Adjust heights and angles for neutral posture. Share findings with your team to spark helpful adjustments.

Swap Stories & Tips

Gather in a casual chat or online meeting. Share signs you’ve noticed and methods that eased discomfort. Open conversations early, when strain first appears.

Try Strength Moves

Offer brief hand, forearm, or shoulder exercises. Use light strengthening routines shown to build resistance. Ask a physical therapist to lead the session if possible.

Learn Together

Play a short training video or host a mini‑workshop on disease prevention, posture, and ergonomics. Keep materials simple so anyone can follow along.

Encourage Early Reporting

Remind people to speak up at their first sign of discomfort. Early action helps fix issues before they worsen. Pair that with open manager discussions.

History of International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day

International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day began in 2000, thanks to the efforts of Catherine Fenech in Toronto. She had experienced the pain and limits of RSI herself.

Wanting to help others avoid the same struggle, she brought together unions, health workers, and injured employees.

Together, they raised their voices about injuries caused by constant, repeated tasks—like typing, scanning, or lifting.

The very first events happened in Canada, but the idea quickly spread. Now, people in several countries mark this day each year. They use it to talk about ways to protect the body during work and daily tasks.

The choice of date is clever. It always falls on the last day of February—either the 28th or, in leap years, the 29th. That makes it the least repetitive day on the calendar, fitting the theme.

Over time, more groups joined in: clinics, safety councils, and government offices began sharing helpful materials. They post free guides, posters, and tips for safer working.

Today, this day helps workers speak up sooner, before small aches grow into lasting pain.

What started with one person’s push for awareness now connects many voices worldwide—each one helping to build better habits and safer spaces.

International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day