Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is It?
Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Tips for WMSD
Themusculoskeletal systemproduces movement and provides support for the body. It is made up of the various bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the body. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a group of painful disorders that result when your working conditions cause or worsen a musculoskeletal disorder.
Examples include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, thoracic outlet syndrome, and tension neck syndrome.
This article will discuss causes, types, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Weiquan Lin / Getty Images
What Is a Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder (WMSD)?
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are sometimes referred to as the following:
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder Symptoms
Symptoms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders can vary depending on the body part affected. They all share the same two characteristics, however, of musculoskeletal pain and loss of function. These symptoms make performing work duties painful and difficult and/or impossible depending on the severity of the condition.
Other symptoms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders include:
How Do WMSDs Occur?
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders occur from work conditions that involve repeated strain on the body. Repeated physical activity through movements or prolonged positioning or postures can cause stress and irritation, especially over time.
Muscle Injury
Tendon Injury
Tendons connect muscles to bones. Tendon injuries, including tears and tendonitis, often affect the tendons of the shoulder, arm, and wrist muscles. Repeated hand or shoulder use can strain these tendons over time, especially when the muscles lack enough strength to keep up with work demands. The tendons of therotator cuffin the shoulder and wrist flexors and extensors of the forearm are common sites of tendon injuries.
Nerve Injury
What Are the Risk Factors for WMSDs?
Most WMSDs result from a combination of factors related to work demands, equipment used, and workplace environment. Risk factors associated with WMSDs consist of:
Additionally, job-related stress, lack of support from colleagues and managers, and high work demands increase the likelihood of developing a WMSD.
How Are WMSDs Diagnosed?
You may have an X-ray taken to make sure you do not have a broken bone. If your healthcare provider determines that your injury is a mild or chronic condition, you will often be referred tophysical therapyfirst to help manage your symptoms.
If you have a more severe case or see no improvement in symptoms after several weeks of physical therapy, your healthcare provider may recommend more diagnostic imaging. Anmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI),computed tomography (CT) scan, orultrasoundcan help determine a more accurate diagnosis.
How Are WMSDs Treated?
Treatment for work-related musculoskeletal disorders will vary depending on the severity of the disorder. First and foremost, rest from aggravating work activities is needed to help your symptoms calm down. Sometimes, employers can accommodate and put you on light duty, depending on your job responsibilities. In other cases, time off from work entirely may be needed.
If you have localized pain in an area that is not being relieved with medication, your healthcare provider may also consider administering acortisone injectiondirectly into the affected area to help decrease pain and inflammation.
Physical therapy also plays an important role in treatment for WMSDs. A physical therapist will guide you through corrective exercises and stretches, provide hands-on treatment, and administer modalities such as ice, heat, and electrical stimulation to help with your symptoms. If you experience little improvement in your symptoms after several weeks of physical therapy, you will have to return to your healthcare provider to discuss other treatment options. Depending on the severity of your injury and what part is affected, surgery may be an option to repair or clean up a damaged part of the body.
Helpful Work Practices and Tips
Even if an injury is successfully treated, the injury will likely reoccur unless the initial causes, including work tasks and the work environment, are changed.
Prevention is key for managing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Tips, if and when possible, to help prevent developing a WMSD consist of:
What Is Occupational Health and Safety?
Summary
WMSDs are more likely to occur in certain professions with physically demanding duties that involve extended periods of physical labor, exposure to vibration, compression, or contact stress, prolonged awkward positions or postures, high force, and repetitive movements. Treatment for WMSDs involves rest from aggravating activities, physical therapy, and workplace redesign to prevent repeated overuse injuries.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders & ergonomics,University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders.Yasobant S, Rajkumar P.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among health care professionals: A cross-sectional assessment of risk factors in a tertiary hospital, India. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2014 May;18(2):75-81. doi: 10.4103/0019-5278.146896.Okezue OC, Anamezie TH, Nene JJ, Okwudili JD.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among office workers in higher education institutions: A cross-sectional study.Ethiop J Health Sci. 2020 Sep;30(5):715-724. doi: 10.4314/ejhs.v30i5.10.Bass E.Tendinopathy: why the difference between tendinitis and tendinosis matters.Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2012;5(1):14-17. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.2.160075Defense Center for Public Health - Aberdeen.Ergonomic injuries (or WMSDs), injury risks, and workplace redesigns.Govaerts, R., Tassignon, B., Ghillebert, J. et al.Prevalence and incidence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in secondary industries of 21st century Europe: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 22, 751 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04615-9Penn Medicine.Musculoskeletal pain.Merck Manual.Musculoskeletal Pain.Prall J, Ross M.The management of work-related musculoskeletal injuries in an occupational health setting: the role of the physical therapist.J Exerc Rehabil.2019 Apr 26;15(2):193-199. doi: 10.12965/jer.1836636.318.Soares CO, Pereira BF, Pereira Gomes MV, Marcondes LP, de Campos Gomes F, de Melo-Neto JS.Preventive factors against work-related musculoskeletal disorders: Narrative review.Rev Bras Med Trab. 2020 Apr 15;17(3):415-430. doi: 10.5327/Z1679443520190360.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders & ergonomics,University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders.Yasobant S, Rajkumar P.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among health care professionals: A cross-sectional assessment of risk factors in a tertiary hospital, India. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2014 May;18(2):75-81. doi: 10.4103/0019-5278.146896.Okezue OC, Anamezie TH, Nene JJ, Okwudili JD.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among office workers in higher education institutions: A cross-sectional study.Ethiop J Health Sci. 2020 Sep;30(5):715-724. doi: 10.4314/ejhs.v30i5.10.Bass E.Tendinopathy: why the difference between tendinitis and tendinosis matters.Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2012;5(1):14-17. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.2.160075Defense Center for Public Health - Aberdeen.Ergonomic injuries (or WMSDs), injury risks, and workplace redesigns.Govaerts, R., Tassignon, B., Ghillebert, J. et al.Prevalence and incidence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in secondary industries of 21st century Europe: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 22, 751 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04615-9Penn Medicine.Musculoskeletal pain.Merck Manual.Musculoskeletal Pain.Prall J, Ross M.The management of work-related musculoskeletal injuries in an occupational health setting: the role of the physical therapist.J Exerc Rehabil.2019 Apr 26;15(2):193-199. doi: 10.12965/jer.1836636.318.Soares CO, Pereira BF, Pereira Gomes MV, Marcondes LP, de Campos Gomes F, de Melo-Neto JS.Preventive factors against work-related musculoskeletal disorders: Narrative review.Rev Bras Med Trab. 2020 Apr 15;17(3):415-430. doi: 10.5327/Z1679443520190360.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders & ergonomics,University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders.Yasobant S, Rajkumar P.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among health care professionals: A cross-sectional assessment of risk factors in a tertiary hospital, India. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2014 May;18(2):75-81. doi: 10.4103/0019-5278.146896.Okezue OC, Anamezie TH, Nene JJ, Okwudili JD.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among office workers in higher education institutions: A cross-sectional study.Ethiop J Health Sci. 2020 Sep;30(5):715-724. doi: 10.4314/ejhs.v30i5.10.Bass E.Tendinopathy: why the difference between tendinitis and tendinosis matters.Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2012;5(1):14-17. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.2.160075Defense Center for Public Health - Aberdeen.Ergonomic injuries (or WMSDs), injury risks, and workplace redesigns.Govaerts, R., Tassignon, B., Ghillebert, J. et al.Prevalence and incidence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in secondary industries of 21st century Europe: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 22, 751 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04615-9Penn Medicine.Musculoskeletal pain.Merck Manual.Musculoskeletal Pain.Prall J, Ross M.The management of work-related musculoskeletal injuries in an occupational health setting: the role of the physical therapist.J Exerc Rehabil.2019 Apr 26;15(2):193-199. doi: 10.12965/jer.1836636.318.Soares CO, Pereira BF, Pereira Gomes MV, Marcondes LP, de Campos Gomes F, de Melo-Neto JS.Preventive factors against work-related musculoskeletal disorders: Narrative review.Rev Bras Med Trab. 2020 Apr 15;17(3):415-430. doi: 10.5327/Z1679443520190360.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders & ergonomics,
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Yasobant S, Rajkumar P.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among health care professionals: A cross-sectional assessment of risk factors in a tertiary hospital, India. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2014 May;18(2):75-81. doi: 10.4103/0019-5278.146896.
Okezue OC, Anamezie TH, Nene JJ, Okwudili JD.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among office workers in higher education institutions: A cross-sectional study.Ethiop J Health Sci. 2020 Sep;30(5):715-724. doi: 10.4314/ejhs.v30i5.10.
Bass E.Tendinopathy: why the difference between tendinitis and tendinosis matters.Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2012;5(1):14-17. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.2.160075
Defense Center for Public Health - Aberdeen.Ergonomic injuries (or WMSDs), injury risks, and workplace redesigns.
Govaerts, R., Tassignon, B., Ghillebert, J. et al.Prevalence and incidence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in secondary industries of 21st century Europe: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 22, 751 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04615-9
Penn Medicine.Musculoskeletal pain.
Merck Manual.Musculoskeletal Pain.
Prall J, Ross M.The management of work-related musculoskeletal injuries in an occupational health setting: the role of the physical therapist.J Exerc Rehabil.2019 Apr 26;15(2):193-199. doi: 10.12965/jer.1836636.318.
Soares CO, Pereira BF, Pereira Gomes MV, Marcondes LP, de Campos Gomes F, de Melo-Neto JS.Preventive factors against work-related musculoskeletal disorders: Narrative review.Rev Bras Med Trab. 2020 Apr 15;17(3):415-430. doi: 10.5327/Z1679443520190360.
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