Musculoskeletal disorders know no age or lifestyle bounds, impacting an astonishing 1.71 billion individuals worldwide—a testament to their widespread prevalence and the urgent need for awareness and action. (2022, par 1).
There are numerous ways to get musculoskeletal disorders, both within and outside of the workplace. Awareness of these common causes may prevent musculoskeletal injuries and improve bone structure. Musculoskeletal conditions may include joint noises when in motion (crepitus), redness or heated skin, restricted range of motion, and fatigue. Some actions we do every day increase our risk of musculoskeletal diseases, including these four frequent causes:
- Unstable ergonomic configuration: Uncomfortable sitting, poor ergonomic designs, and improperly organized workstations can all lead to musculoskeletal disorders.
- Overdoing it with repeated motion: Pulling, pushing, and lifting are hard, repetitive tasks common in many professions – especially in healthcare. Musculoskeletal disorders are more likely to occur when someone tries to lift something heavier than themselves or uses an inadequate lifting technique.
- Lack of training: Many employees aren’t trained on correct lifting forms, how to set up proper ergonomics, and workplace safety practices. Most injuries begin as muscle strains and progress to musculoskeletal injuries. Unfortunately, lack of training has resulted in a significant knowledge gap.
- Poor and awkward posture: Our musculoskeletal system is strained while we work in abnormal postures. Extended periods in these positions result in general discomfort and muscle fatigue.
How you can prevent it:
- Assessing your space and tasks:
- By assessing the workstation, you can identify potential risks to your musculoskeletal system and implement the appropriate ergonomic solutions. This could include adjusting chair height, acquiring new equipment, and practicing proper posture.
- Educating yourself and others:
- Comprehensive training provides all workers with safe lifting techniques and injury prevention tactics, arguably one of the most significant components in preventing musculoskeletal diseases. Education programs focused on injury prevention strategies, nutritional health, body mechanics, and protective gear are recommended.
- Get active:
- The simplest ‘hack’ to minimize preventable injuries is maintaining a healthy lifestyle, as exercise increases muscle strength and flexibility. Your workplace could support this by offering discounts on group exercise classes or implementing wellness initiatives encouraging physical activity.
- Balanced rest and diet:
- You’d be surprised at how much rest and eating the right foods can provide your body the nutrition it needs to maintain the health of your bones and muscles. When you exercise, try to eat meals high in calcium and vitamin D, giving your muscles time to heal and recuperate.
By implementing proper risk assessments and evaluations, you can help give your body a healthier musculoskeletal system. Take the Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Symptoms Survey (WMSDs) or review the risk factors to determine whether you are suffering from any pain, discomfort, or disability that could be connected to your job.
