The topic of musculoskeletal disorders MSD is important because it has a massive impact on the quality of life of billions of people in the world and millions of people in the UK. It is also important because the proportion of people, who are planning to spend most of their working hours at home has risen since the pandemic in the UK. It means that people need to be more aware of themselves and their environment to avoid MSD.

What is a musculoskeletal disorder MSD ?

Musculoskeletal disorders MSDs are conditions that affect people's muscles, bones, and joints.

The following activities can lead to MSDs: spending time in the same position at work every day, lifting something heavy, doing repetitive motions and having poor posture whilst working.

MSD may have a range of symptoms. Chronic pain is one of the first signs - some experience general pain in their bodies and others have it in a certain place. The common symptoms are: stiffness in joints, swelling, inflammation, difficulty in moving, spasms in muscles, bruising and discolouration.

Global and UK statistics

The Global Burden of Disease study 2020 found that approximately 1.71 billion people have musculoskeletal conditions worldwide. Rates of disability linked to MSD have been increasing and are projected to continue to increase in the next decades.

Lower back pain is the main contributor to MSD and is the main reason for ending working life. The other contributors include fractures 436 million people globally , osteoarthritis 343 million , other injuries 305 million , neck pain 222 million , amputations 175 million and rheumatoid arthritis 14 million .

MSD affect 1 in 4 adult population, which is around 9.6 million people in the UK.

Work-related MSD in the UK

According to the latest estimates from the Labour Force Survey in 2020-2021, 470,000 workers are suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders new or long-standing . This figure is based on self-reporting, which requires certain conditions to be in place to produce accurate figures. For example, all the workplaces in the UK need to have policies to enable the workers to report concerns and non-oppressive work culture to promote the awareness of these policies and encouragement to use them.

Psychosocial factors

The workplace negative psychosocial factors lack of job control, excessive job demands, low job satisfaction, and lack of social support can cause stress, which triggers physiological changes decrease sensitivity to pain; slowing down non-essential functions, such as growth and repair; reduced blood flow to skin to prevent blood loss in case of an injury . This can cause a significant risk to workers. For example, when the pain is not noticed during stress, the worker may work beyond their body's physical capacity.

It is important to understand that the physiological changes that people experience during stress prepares them to cope with an immediate danger. However, if it does not get resolved quickly, the physiological changes are sustained and the body remains stuck in stress mode.

It is essential for each individual to recognise when they stressed, what causes their stress and the levels of stress. Once this recognition is achieved, an individual can make a decision as to how best to cope with it or make the necessary changes in life. Some people might find it difficult to be in touch with their body or refer to body sensations. However, this body-mind awareness can be developed. The practices of yoga and body-focused counselling/psychotherapy uses the awareness of physical sensations to understand and interpret mental states. These practices could also help to regulate nervous system.

Mental health

Mental health conditions can increase the risk of developing some MSDs, such as back pain. MSD can also have a significant impact on mental health because living with pain can contribute to anxiety and depression depression is 4 times more common among people experiencing ongoing pain in comparison to those without pain .

MSD requires psychological and practical adjustments to avoid deterioration in symptoms. The required changes can cause stress due to feeling overwhelmed. It can lead to having difficulties in relationships with self and others. If this is not addressed, the person with MSD might start experiencing depressive symptoms. Counselling and psychotherapy can help to accept the condition and discover the ways to manage it.

Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders

MSD prevention is important to avoid ill-health and long-term conditions. Prevention for MSD includes the need to take regular breaks 20-30 minutes , change positions, notice and treat inflammation early following diagnosis from a medical professional . Please note that a diagnosis can be complex, so might take a long time.

The Public Health England team 2020 recommends for adults to engage in:

• at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week
• strengthening activities yoga, resistance exercises for major muscle groups on daily basis
• moderate intensity physical activities, such as walking or cycling