Musculoskeletal health is key to maintaining good function of our physical bodies. Around a third of Europeans report suffering from bone, joint or muscle problems which can be caused or made worse by their working conditions. Workplace support for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) is one of the most important factors when it comes to aiding recovery or managing chronic pain.
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work report found that 26% of workers with chronic MSD reported more than 8 days of absence, compared to just 7% without. As well as improving individual outcomes, investing in ways to help support employees with their musculoskeletal health can help them return to work faster and reduce future absences.
Promote good posture to prevent injuries
Maintaining good posture during work is an important habit that supports overall health and wellbeing. Businesses should make sure that employees are aware of good posture and how to implement it. This guidance will look different for each work environment, and often each individual employee — depending on their specific needs. For example, guidelines for desk workers will include different considerations than those performing manual handling. Some high risk areas to consider include:
- Repetitive work and awkward positions
- Health risks associated with display screen equipment
- Manual handling
- Exposure to vibration
As well as being aware of correct posture, employees should know how to report injuries and work-related health issues to their management or health and safety team. This will help identify any problems that may need further investigation and ensure that employees are putting health and safety training into practice.
Signpost employees to treatment
Choosing physical therapy to treat musculoskeletal disorders has been shown to help people recover quickly and safely and can decrease overall healthcare costs. Some therapy treatments can be used to treat musculoskeletal issues include:
- Physiotherapy
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic
- Osteopathy
Treatments such as physiotherapy can assist with pain management, rehabilitation, prevention and improving physical function. These treatments may be available through publicly funded healthcare services, but it can be beneficial for workplaces to cover or contribute to employees’ therapy treatments to aid their recovery and return to work.
Look after employee mental health
EU-OSHA found that with workers experiencing musculoskeletal disorders, there is higher rate of experiencing fatigue (51%), sleep disturbances (39%) and anxiety (17%). Physical health and mental health are intrinsically linked. The pain and loss of mobility associated with MSDs can be tiring and have a negative effect on our mood and mental health.
This is an area that shouldn’t be neglected in your physical wellbeing policy. It’s important to equip your people with the skills needed to spot the early signs of mental health issues arising in the workplace. Managers should be encouraged to start supportive conversations and guide people to seeking the appropriate professional help. By creating support for mental health at work, businesses can provide support for these often-overlooked symptoms of MSDs.
Vitality Spaces
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that adults engage in 150 minutes of vigorous exercise per week to gain health benefits and prevent disease. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing long-term MSDs, but it can be difficult to fit exercise into the working day.
Having a dedicated Vitality Spaces area in your workplace is an ideal way to encourage employees to be physically active and help manage existing conditions.
The space doesn’t have to be large or costly. A flexible fitness room or space within the office can have a huge impact on physical wellbeing. They’re especially useful for employees who’ve been prescribed exercises to strengthen muscles relating to their musculoskeletal health. These spaces can be used for anything from lunchtime fitness classes to standing meetings, giving employees plenty of opportunity to be more active throughout the day.