Skip to main content

Musculoskeletal Disorders


Moderate static work might produce localised fatigue in the muscle involved and could lead to intolerable pain. Moreover, excessive effort or work (could be static or dynamic) repeated over a period of time could lead to light pain initially and then to intense aches and pains. This does not only involve muscles, but could affect joints, tendons, ligaments and other tissues.

Continuous exposure and repeated efforts or movement can lead to damage of  ligaments, tendons and joints. These impairments are usually referred to as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). MSDs develop over time; the process evolves gradually with repeated overuse and lack of recovery. Sudden appearances of injury such as a torn ligament or a sprain, are not musculoskeletal disorders associated with repetitive work and are clearly work-related accidents.

Other terms generally used apart from MSDs are cumulative trauma disorders, repetitive stress disorders, repetitive stress injury (RSI), overuse injuries and repetitive motion disorder (RMD).

Examples of work-related musculoskeletal disorders are epicondylitis, tendinitis, tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis thoracic outlet syndrome, prolapsed invertebra disc (PID) and others.

When a work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) develops, a worker experiences the following:

(a) Localised fatigue and discomfort (early indicator);

(b) Swelling, as tissues become irritated;

(c) Pain;

(d) Stiffness and loss of range of motion of muscle and joints; and

(e) Inability to work and function at home.

The phenomenon of MSDs should be treated with great attention because of the consequences involved. The direct and indirect costs of MSDs are listed below:

(a) Direct cost  medical expenses, compensation for victim and others; and

(b) Indirect cost  loss of production, loss of work days, replacement cost and others.

Besides that, other consequences of MSDs on the victims must be considered. These include physical and mental suffering, loss of quality of life, temporary and permanent limitation in work and daily routine activities, financial problems, relationship problems, difficulties in social life and many more. These consequences are often overlooked.

Other Individual Factors that Can Cause MSD
Sometimes individual factors can make a great impact on the occurrence of MSDs. This depends on individual characteristics and may vary from one worker to another. The following are some of the individual factors which may affect the occurrence of MSDs:

(a) Height;
(b) Weight (being overweight may increase the risk);
(c) Gender;
(d) Ethnicity (some ethnic groups have stronger upper limbs compare to others);
(e) Age (older work population may have greater risk);
(f) The bodyÊs ability to deal with the risk factors;
(g) Previous injuries (road accidents, falls and others);
(h) Lifestyle (smoking, diet, exercise and others);
(i) Pre-existing or co-existing musculoskeletal disorders; and
(j) Past exposure to heavy lifting.


Trial Question
  1. How can work lead to MSDs?
  2. What is the scenario of MSDs in developing and developed countries?
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ergonomics in the Office-1

Millions of people go to work every day by sitting down in front of a computer. These jobs certainly don’t come with the same dangers as working in a factory or with heavy equipment but the office job can pose very real risks to health. Neck and back pain, shoulder stiffness and wrist pain are a few associated long-term hazards. Fortunately, learning a few things about proper ergonomics in the office can go a long way toward mitigating these risks. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:   Have a Well Designed Chair:  If sitting all day is unavoidable, then having a good chair to do it in is a must. Look for a chair that has firm cushioning and easy height adjustments. Lower back and well-placed arm support are mandatory. Good Posture:  This seems obvious, but the best chair will not do any good if the person sitting in it is slouched over all day. The spine should be straight, keeping the torso perpendicular to the floor. Arms should come straig...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ergonomic Home Design for the Disabled

How difficult is it to open a jar without the full use of one’s hands? How safe is it to step into the shower when one has arthritis or a knee injury? Is getting into a car always as simple as one-two-three, or could it take more planning for someone with an injured back? Asking these kinds of questions – and many more – is part of a new and growing dimension of design. The trend in making products – and information – more accessible to those with any kind of disability is gathering momentum. Interestingly, seeking design solutions that meet the needs of the disabled results in a better overall design, benefitting both the able and disabled. New terminology has been coined to describe more inclusive design processes, including terms such as accessible design, barrier-free design and assistive technology. Universal design is a relatively new approach that has emerged from these models and describes the design elements of buildings, products and environments that allow fo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fire Hydrant System

A fire hydrant, (also known as fire pumps, hydrant boosters, fire water pumps)is a connection point by which firefighters can tap into a water supply. These are high pressure water pumps designed to increase the fire fighting capacity of a building by boosting the pressure in the hydrant service when mains is not enough, or when tank fed. A Fire Hydrant with fully-on valve , releasing pressure water. Safe Operating Procedure- Fire Hydrant The user attaches a hose to the fire hydrant, then opens a valve on the hydrant to provide a powerful flow of water.  Most fire hydrant valves are not designed to throttle the water flow; they are designed to be operated either full-on or full-off. Attaching Hose with Fire Hydrant When a firefighter is operating a hydrant, he or she typically wears appropriate personal protective equipment, such as gloves and a helmet with face shield worn. High-pressure water coursing through a potentially aging and corroding hydrant coul...
Post a Comment
Read more