Repetitive strain injury (RSI) must be taken more seriously than it has been so far, UK experts say.

For the RSI rates have been rising in recent years in that country, costing its  economy £300m a year in lost working time, sick pay and administration.

Not enough is being done to protect to those vulnerable, it is felt.

RSI covers a range of work-related upper limb problems, which can affect the hands, wrists, necks, arms and upper back.

Health and Safety Executive statistics show that there were 115,000 new cases in the UK last year - up from 86,000 on the year before.

And the figures revealed that rather than being a problem just for office staff using computers constantly, construction workers such as carpenters and painters were also at high risk.

But the problem was not being viewed seriously, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy regretted.

It said staff needed to be given regular breaks and access to occupational health specialists and called on the government to promote the use of occupational health therapists in the workplace.

Also the businesses needed to make sure staff could have regular breaks and risk assessments were carried out.

The experts also said there were steps staff could take themselves, including avoiding prolonged or repetitive tasks, using both hands for tasks and keeping warm to avoid strains.

Bronwyn Clifford, a spokeswoman for the society, said: "Why do we let this situation continue? Many thousands of people are suffering and employers are losing hundreds of millions of pounds every year through RSI.