Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) is a medical condition that keeps you away from work for many days. People working in hotels, restaurants and all other manufacturing industries are prone to MSDs. Identifying and treating them on time is crucial; otherwise, they can lead to a rise in other health issues.
One of the most preferred treatments for this condition is manipulative musculoskeletal physiotherapy. You can contact us at FlexiFit Physiotherapy to get treated by experienced physiotherapists.
If you are wondering what musculoskeletal disorders are, keep reading this article to get further information about them.
What Is Musculoskeletal Disorder?
Musculoskeletal disorder is a medical condition that impacts joints, bones, tendons, muscles and ligaments. An external injury, such as a fracture, can lead to severe pain, which causes musculoskeletal disorders. This pain can be sudden (acute) or long-lasting (chronic). It can be restricted to a particular area or might affect your entire body.
The pain in these parts can also be due to old-age problems like arthritis. When musculoskeletal disorders start interfering with daily activity, it is important to consult a doctor and get the appropriate treatment.
Types Of Musculoskeletal Pain
Musculoskeletal disorder leads to pain in many parts of the body. Some of the common MSD pains include:
- Bone pain: External injuries, such as bone fractures, can lead to bone pain. Also, in some cases, tumours may cause pain in the bone.
- Joint pain: Inflammation and stiffness may cause joint pain. Sometimes it gets reduced with time and rest, but sometimes it can become chronic.
- Muscle pain: Cramps, muscle spasms and other external injuries might lead to muscle pain.
- Tendon and ligament pain: Tendons and ligaments are strong tissue bands that connect bones with joints. Any kind of strain can cause pain in the ligament and tendons.
Causes of Musculoskeletal Disorders
There are many reasons which could lead to MSDs. However, the risk factors are categorised into two types: work-related or ergonomic and individual risk factors.
Ergonomic
The workplace structure significantly impacts the development of MSD. When a person pushes their body limit and capabilities, they risk their musculoskeletal system. A musculoskeletal disorder is quite evident due to ergonomic factors. These factors include forceful exertions, awkward posture and repetitive tasks.
People employed in the manufacturing industry are often exposed to prolonged awkward posture, forceful exertions and repetitive tasks. All these things lead to an imbalance in the musculoskeletal system, ultimately leading to musculoskeletal disorders.
Individual Factors
When an individual follows poor work practices, such as lifting techniques and body mechanics, it leads to fatigue and unwanted stress. The body loses its capability to recover and thus causes MSD. Furthermore, smoking, poor lifestyle and excessive drinking make an individual even more prone to MSD. Besides poor fitness, improper nutrition and lack of hydration can lead to chronic problems and MSD.
Other Factors
Ageing, rheumatoid arthritis, excessive exercise, obesity and sitting in an uncomfortable position can also lead to musculoskeletal disorders. Apart from prolonged bed rest post-surgery, infections in muscles, bones, other soft tissue and tumours can also cause musculoskeletal disorders.
Signs And Symptoms Of Musculoskeletal Disorder
Various signs and symptoms can be used to identify whether you are suffering from MSD. However, the quality of pain may depend on the location. For instance, bone pain can be stabbing, dull, deep or sharp. It can be more uncomfortable than tendon or muscle pain.
Muscle pain can be short-lived and intense if caused by muscle contraction or cramps. On the other hand, tendon pain may feel sharp if caused by an injury. It gets worse if you stretch that area. Joint pain can be like aching accompanied by swelling and stiffness. The pain of nerve compression may feel like burning and tingling. In addition to these, other symptoms are:
- Soreness
- Redness
- Swelling
- Muscle spasms or twitches
- Stiffness
- Fatigue
- Trouble moving the affected area
- Bruising
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Weakness
- Cracking or popping sound in the joint.
Diagnosis of Musculoskeletal Disorder
After knowing what musculoskeletal disorders are, you can get them diagnosed. When you visit your doctor, they might ask you for your medical history and examine the symptoms. They might ask you questions, such as:
- How did it happen?
- When did the pain start?
- How does it feel?
- Where is the pain?
- What are the symptoms?
Treatment
After examining your problem, the doctor might recommend different treatments based on the severity of your condition. Physiotherapists, orthopaedic specialists, rheumatologists and osteopaths are people you can consult if you are suffering from MSD.
Be at Your Best With FlexiFit Physiotherapy
Musculoskeletal disorder is a common medical condition that affects a large number of people these days because of a hectic work structure and other reasons. Now you know what musculoskeletal disorders are, observe any sign or symptom that you have and make sure to consult a relevant doctor for the same. If you are looking for experienced physiotherapists, then you can contact us at FlexiFit Physiotherapy.