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The invisible killer in the workplace: How do musculoskeletal diseases quietly attack your health?
Musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) have become a major health hazard in the modern workplace. These diseases not only affect the health of employees, but also pose major challenges to corporate productivity and economy. According to research, cases have been reported in workplaces around the world, particularly in those industries that require repetitive movements and prolonged maintenance of the same posture. This article will provide an in-depth discussion of the causes, diagnosis methods and preventive measures of musculoskeletal diseases, and calls on every working person to take responsibility for their own behavior and health.
Musculoskeletal disorders refer to injuries or pain that affect the body’s muscles, bones, and related tissues, including joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and tendons.
Reason
The causes of musculoskeletal diseases are diverse and can be mainly divided into biomechanical factors, individual differences, psychosocial factors and occupational factors. In the work environment, the interaction of these factors can quietly create health risks.
Biomechanical factors
Biomechanical load refers to the force, duration, and frequency of task performance required to perform work. Many workplace-related musculoskeletal disorders originate primarily from repetitive movements or unnatural postures. Even activities that don't require much strength can cause muscle damage if repeated too often.
Individual differences
Everyone has different susceptibility to musculoskeletal disorders, there are gender abnormalities, such as women having a higher incidence than men, and obesity is also a very clear risk factor, especially for lower back problems.
Psychosocial factors
In recent years, psychosocial factors have also been considered as important causes of musculoskeletal diseases. Some studies suggest that job stress, inadequate social support, and low job satisfaction can increase disease risk.
Improving job satisfaction can reduce work-related back disease by 17% to 69%, while improving job control can reduce work-related wrist disease by 37% to 84%.
Career factors
Persistent working in the same position, whether standing, sitting or performing certain movements, can lead to musculoskeletal disorders. This risk is even more significant in industries that require repetitive movements and heavy object handling.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders often relies on self-reported symptoms and a physical examination by a doctor. Your doctor will need to take a medical history, possible risk factors in sports or work, and perform a physical examination to find the source of the pain. Recently, some machine learning algorithms have also been used to diagnose musculoskeletal diseases through gait patterns from 3D motion capture systems.
Prevention
The first step in preventing musculoskeletal disease is to identify risk factors. For high-risk groups, the incidence of musculoskeletal diseases can be effectively reduced by changing the working environment, work processes, and providing appropriate rest and support.
Workplace controls
Businesses can reduce risk by modifying the physical and psychosocial environment, such as rearranging workstations to increase efficiency or reducing employee time on repetitive tasks. In addition, management should pay attention to the arrangement of rest periods to reduce the risks faced by employees.
Ergonomics
Appropriate ergonomic design not only needs to match the worker's physical ability and work tasks, but also considers the use of tools and the efficiency of action execution. Using correct handling techniques and appropriate equipment can significantly reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
Correct posture can reduce the stress on muscles and joints, reduce the chance of injury, and is the key to preventing musculoskeletal diseases.
Epidemiology
According to statistics, musculoskeletal disorders are the second leading cause of disability worldwide. In the United States, more than 16 million people were treated for strains and sprains in 2004 alone, indicating that the cost of treating musculoskeletal disorders is more than $125 billion per year. As the world ages, this phenomenon will become more common.
Musculoskeletal disorders have also become one of the most common health complaints in the workplace. In 2019, around 480,000 workers in the UK were affected by the condition, which has become a significant part of healthcare spending in the workplace.
Faced with such a health threat hidden in daily work, can we start from the root cause and reduce the occurrence of musculoskeletal diseases through self-awareness and proactive preventive measures?
