Musculo-Skeletal Disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common occupational illness in Great Britain. They include problems such as low back pain, joint injuries and repetitive strain injuries of various sorts. Back pain affects all industries.
Occupations carrying above average risk of injury are those people working in construction and health and social care.
In 2005/06 an estimated 1,020 000 people in Great Britain suffered from a musculoskeletal disorder which, in their opinion, was caused or made worse by their current or past work. This is equal to 2400 per 100 000 people (2.4%) who have ever worked in Great Britain!
Each year thousands of new cases of musculoskeletal disorders require some level of specialist intervention. It is estimated that 5760 cases were seen for the first time in 2005 by rheumatologists and occupational physicians reporting to the MOSS (Musculoskeletal Occupational Surveillance Scheme) and OPRA (Occupational Physicians Reporting Activity) surveillance schemes.
In 2005/06 it is estimated that 9.5 million working days (full-day equivalent) were lost through musculoskeletal disorders caused or made worse by work.
On average, each person suffering took an estimated 17.3 days off work in that 12 month period. This is equal to an annual loss of 0.41 days per worker.
Around 43% of people (437 000) suffered from a disorder mainly affecting their back, 37%, 374 000 from a disorder mainly affecting their upper limbs or neck, and 20%, 209 000 mainly affecting their lower limbs.
It is estimated that about 40% of all adults have back pain in a single year and about 20% have back pain at any one point in time. A range of studies have concluded that:
1 Back pain is a normal experience common to the majority of adults
2 Episodes and re-occurrences of back pain are normal
3 Symptoms that persist for months are normal
4 Most individuals cope with back pain without seeking treatment.
What can lead to back pain in the workplace?
Back pain can arise in many work situations. The exact cause is often unclear, but back pain is more common in tasks that involve:
heavy manual labour and / or the physical management of patients or clients;
manual handling in awkward places, like delivery work / delivering care in cramped and confined environments;
repetitive tasks, such as bending to address personal care / the manual packing of goods;
sitting at a workstation for a long period of time if the workstation is not correctly arranged or adjusted to fit the person, eg working with computers;
driving long distances or driving over rough ground, particularly if the seat is not, or cannot be, properly adjusted or adequately sprung
Operating heavy or bulkey equipment, such as an excavator or a hoist which can lead to excessive jolting and jarring
Work involving too much bending, reaching or twisting;
Work where force is needed to carry out a task;
Physical activities that can aggravate back pain, or at least be more difficult when you have back pain include:
stooping, bending over or crouching, including work at personal computers (poor posture);
lifting objects which are too heavy or bulky, carrying objects awkwardly;
pushing, pulling or dragging excessive loads;
working beyond normal abilities and limits, and when physically overtired;
using poor lifting / handling techniques (or where you are unable to use lifting aids due to the working environment);
stretching, twisting and reaching;
prolonged periods in one position, leading to postural strain;
situations where the whole body is subjected to vibration, jolting and jarring.
As with many ill health conditions, some people are more likely to get back pain than others.
Factors which contribute to musculo-skeletal injuries
The ageing process causes weakness in the skeleton and musculature. After the age of 55 the average level of degeneration in the skeleton significantly increases the risk of injury. With increasing age the intevertebral discs between the bones of the spine start to deteriorate and the spinal bones or vertebrae lose mineral.
No one can avoid getting older. We can, however, maintain our fitness levels as much as possible by taking regular exercise and eating sensibly. Examples of good forms of exercise are walking and swimming. A fit body is less likely to be injured and if it is injured it is likely to recover more quickly.
Click the runner to see the warm up exercises section.
Psychological Factors
Psychological factors, for example stress, contribute to injury i.e. the muscles are contracted in tension which increases muscle fatigue. Stress often causes distractability which increases the risk of injury.
Repetitive Strain Injury
Related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, shoulder and uppers limbs are collectively referred to as Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI). RSI is a blanket name that is used to describe many different types of soft tissue injury including carpel tunnel syndrome, bursitis, tendonitis e.g. tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, washer-woman’s thumb, writers cramp, text messaging injury.
RSI is usually caused by a mixture of bad ergonomics (the relationship between humans and the design of objects, systems and environment for human use), poor posture, stress and repetitive movement patterns. If, for example, you use a computer for more than a few hours a day, if you spend a lot of time texting or using a key pad to play computer games or if you play a musical instrument you are at risk from repetitive strain injury!
RSI has the potential to cause disability and pain. The symptoms could be one or more of the following:
Pain, stiffness, swelling, numbness or tingling in the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, back or neck
Discomfort which is brought on by carrying out a particular task, and then improves when no longer doing it; i.e. if the pain lessens or disappears over weekends or during holidays
Discomfort starts in one area, for example neck and back, and then spreads to other parts of the body. Early warning signs may present as shoulder discomfort or neck pain, aching and stiffness in the limbs and the hands.
Factors which contribute to musculo-skeletal injuries
The ageing process causes weakness in the skeleton and musculature. After the age of 55 the average level of degeneration in the skeleton significantly increases the risk of injury. With increasing age the intevertebral discs between the bones of the spine start to deteriorate and the spinal bones or vertebrae lose mineral.
No one can avoid getting older. We can, however, maintain our fitness levels as much as possible by taking regular exercise and eating sensibly. Examples of good forms of exercise are walking and swimming. A fit body is less likely to be injured and if it is injured it is likely to recover more quickly.
Click the runner to see the warm up exercises section.
Psychological Factors
Psychological factors, for example stress, contribute to injury i.e. the muscles are contracted in tension which increases muscle fatigue. Stress often causes distractability which increases the risk of injury.
Repetitive Strain Injury
Related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, shoulder and uppers limbs are collectively referred to as Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI). RSI is a blanket name that is used to describe many different types of soft tissue injury including carpel tunnel syndrome, bursitis, tendonitis e.g. tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, washer-woman’s thumb, writers cramp, text messaging injury.
RSI is usually caused by a mixture of bad ergonomics (the relationship between humans and the design of objects, systems and environment for human use), poor posture, stress and repetitive movement patterns. If, for example, you use a computer for more than a few hours a day, if you spend a lot of time texting or using a key pad to play computer games or if you play a musical instrument you are at risk from repetitive strain injury!
RSI has the potential to cause disability and pain. The symptoms could be one or more of the following:
Pain, stiffness, swelling, numbness or tingling in the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, back or neck
Discomfort which is brought on by carrying out a particular task, and then improves when no longer doing it; i.e. if the pain lessens or disappears over weekends or during holidays
Discomfort starts in one area, for example neck and back, and then spreads to other parts of the body. Early warning signs may present as shoulder discomfort or neck pain, aching and stiffness in the limbs and the hands.
Chemical and Biological Factors
Smoking
Smoking is linked to increased degeneration in the invertebral discs this is because smoking prevents the effective uptake of oxygen into the blood stream. This has a detrimental effect on the whole body. It follows therefore that the musculo-skeletal system will be affected.
Steroids
Steroids when used by asthmatics for a prolonged time, weaken the musculo-skeletal system.
Drugs/Alcohol
Drugs and alcohol can induce muscular relaxation or tension which can increase the chances of injury. These substances also have an effect on the functioning of the brain and therefore contribute to musculo-skeletal injuries.
Congenital Defects
Any musculo-skeletal condition that someone is born with is likely to affect function by placing an unequal amount of strain on different muscle groups.
Menstruation
Menstruation causes a hormone imbalance which can lead to increased stress and tension.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy induces a hormone imbalance. Weight increases, which alters posture and spinal mechanics. Ligaments can relax.
Menopause
Menopause causes a hormone imbalance which in turn can cause osteoporosis which weakens the musculo skeletal system.
