Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs): The Most Common Injury
What is Musculoskeletal Disorder
Injuries or pain in the human musculoskeletal system, including the joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, tendons, and structures that support limbs, neck and back.
Musculoskeletal system is a very inclusive term. It is composed of bones, cartilage, skeletal muscles, joints and connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments. This system provides mechanical support for the body, protects the internal organs and permits movement.
Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) on the other hand is a particular abnormal condition that negatively affects any part of the musculoskeletal system, not necessarily due the any external injury.
Other terms used for MSD include:
- Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSIs)
- Work related MSDs (WMSDs)
- Strains and sprains
- Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs)
- Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs)
- Occupational overuse syndrome (OOS)
Work Related MSD (WRMSD)
Workers in different industries and occupations are exposed to risk factors at work by repetitively performing actions such as lifting heavy items, bending, reaching overhead, pushing and pulling heavy loads, and working in awkward body postures. Most of the workplace injuries occur due to strenuous or repetitive manual task. Soft tissue injuries like sprains and strains along with nerve compression, muscular and vascular disorders are common.
Symptoms may include
- Pain with or without restriction of movement due to swelling/tenderness
- Reduced range of motion or joint stiffness
- Tingling sensation/ numbness
Examples of work conditions that may lead to WRMSDs include routine lifting of heavy objects, daily exposure to whole body vibration, routine overhead work, work with the neck in chronic flexion position, or performing repetitive forceful tasks.
MSDs are common amongst workers with up-to 58 % from EU reportedly suffering from it according to report published by EU-OSHA. In fact, MSDs are the single largest category of workplace injuries and are responsible for more than 30 percent of all workers’ compensation costs according to report by Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) .
Center for Diseases Control (CDC) estimates US companies spent 50 billion dollars on direct costs due to MSDs. The indirect cost is many times more. With rapidly ageing population in the developed world, the risk of MSDs is far bigger.
MSDs include:
- Tendinitis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Fibromyalgia
- Bone fractures
- Lower Back Injuries
Common Risk factors or Ergonomic Hazard examples :
- Awkward postures
- Repetitive work
- Material handling
- Force
- Mechanical compression
- Vibration
- Inadequate lighting
- Duration of exposure
MSD worldwide:
- Approximately 1.71 billion people have Musculoskeletal conditions worldwide.
- Among Musculoskeletal disorders, low back pain causes the highest burden with a prevalence of 568 million people.
- Musculoskeletal conditions are the leading contributor to disability worldwide, with low back pain being the single leading cause of disability in 160 countries.
- The disability associated with Musculoskeletal conditions have been increasing and is projected to continue to increase in the next decades.
(Source: WHO / ILO Survey)
Cases under Musculoskeletal disorders :
US Bureau of Labor Statistics include following cases under Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
- pinched nerve;
- herniated disc;
- meniscus tear;
- sprains, strains, tears;
- hernia (traumatic and nontraumatic);
- pain, swelling, and numbness;
- carpal or tarsal tunnel syndrome;
- Raynaud's syndrome or phenomenon;
- musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases and disorders, when the event or exposure leading to the injury or illness is overexertion and bodily reaction, unspecified;
- overexertion involving outside sources;
- repetitive motion involving microtasks;
- other and multiple exertions or bodily reactions;
- and rubbed, abraded, or jarred by vibration.
References:
CDC Website
