What are musculoskeletal disorders?

What are MSDs?

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect the tissues surrounding the joints, including muscles, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, and cartilage. The most commonly affected areas of the body are the back and upper limbs.

 

In France, upper limb and back MSDs accounted for 86% of occupational diseases recognized by the general social security system in 2021, with 40,852 cases.

The most common MSDs in the general population aged 18-64 include:

  • Low back pain (excluding sciatica): a prevalence of 39% in women and 35% in men.
  • Sciatic pain: a prevalence of 23% in women and 15% in men.
  • Shoulder tendinopathy: a prevalence of 19% in women and 16% in men.
  • Elbow tendinopathy: a prevalence of 9% in women and 11% in men.
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome: a prevalence of 10% in women and 9% in men.

(Source: Santé publique France, March 2024)

What causes MSDs?

Many factors contribute to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). These risk factors can be divided into two categories: work-related risk factors and individual risk factors.

Work-related risk factors

Professional activity plays a major role in the onset, maintenance, or worsening of MSDs due to biomechanical, psychosocial, and organizational constraints.

Biomechanical constraints

Prolonged exposure to biomechanical constraints in the workplace is a major determinant in the onset of MSDs. The main factors identified are:

  • Repetitive movements;
  • High intensity of effort (forces exerted, handling of loads, overall physical strain of the job);
  • Wide range of movements;
  • Repetitive or sustained adoption of uncomfortable postures of the limbs and trunk;
  • Exposure to vibrations transmitted to the hand or spine.

Psychosocial factors

Psychosocial factors at work increase the risk and promote the persistence of MSDs. The main factors are:

  • Work-related stress;
  • High psychological demands;
  • Low decision-making latitude;
  • Lack of support from management;
  • Lack of support from colleagues;
  • Low recognition at work.

Work organization

Work organization and management practices are key elements in understanding and preventing MSDs. Some of these factors include:

  • Working under time pressure;
  • Lack of recovery time;
  • Rigid procedures and controls;
  • Lack of resources to do quality work;
  • Monotonous tasks;
  • Lack of individual or collective leeway.

Individual risk factors

Human beings are complex. The cause of an MSD is multifactorial. All factors must be taken into account to create an effective prevention strategy.

Individual risk factors include the intrinsic characteristics of the individual and their lifestyle habits.

Intrinsic characteristics

Intrinsic characteristics of individuals can contribute to the development of MSDs. These factors include:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Medical and surgical history
  • Genetic makeup
  • Obesity

Lifestyle

Certain behaviors can cause MSDs, such as:

  • Excessive tobacco or alcohol consumption
  • Intensive sports, gardening, or DIY without sufficient rest and recovery time
  • Poor work practices that create unnecessary stress on the body, increasing fatigue and decreasing recovery capacity
  • Poor nutrition, hydration, and low physical activity. An alarming number of people have poor eating habits, suffer from dehydration, and are in very poor physical condition. To maintain well-being and avoid musculoskeletal disorders and long-term health problems, it is important for everyone to take care of their body and adopt healthy habits.