Key facts

Musculoskeletal disorders - a painful condition

Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common work – related health problems in the EU-27: 25% of European workers complain of backache and 23% of muscular pains;
62% of workers in the EU-27 are exposed a quarter of the time or more to repetitive hand and arm movements; 46% to painful or tiring positions; 35% to carrying or moving heavy loads;
Agriculture and construction are the most affected sectors concerning both: exposure to physical risks and MSDs complaints. However, all sectors are concerned;
In general, women are less exposed to physical risk factors, although hand or arm movements and work involving painful or tiring positions are experienced equally by both;
For certain risks – job involving moving people – women are significantly more exposed than men, respectively 11% and 6% of exposure a quarter of the time or more;
MSDs are costly conditions due to their direct – insurance, compensation, medical and administrative costs, and indirect costs of lost productivity.

Many factors can contribute - either individually or in combination - to the development of MSDs

Physical:

using force - lifting, carrying, pulling, pushing
repetition of movements - typing, painting
awkward and static posture - prolonged standing and sitting, working with hands above your shoulders
contact pressure - local compression of tools
vibration - whole body and hand-arm
cold working environments

Organisational:

high work demand
lack of control over work
low job satisfaction
repetitive work
high pace of work
time pressure
lack of support from colleagues and managers.

Individual:

prior medical history
physical capacity
age
smoking
obesity.

The most vulnerable employees

Manual workers, whether skilled or unskilled, are most at risk from developing MSDs. As you might expect, older workers in Europe report more problems than younger employees.

Upper limb disorders - commonly known as repetitive strain injuries - affect women workers more than men, largely because of the type of work they do. Workers in precarious employment, such as those on fixed-length contracts, are also significantly more exposed to repetitive work and working in painful or tiring positions.

MSDs occur in all occupations and settings, but some employment groups are more at risk.