Musculoskeletal Conditions & Injuries

What are Musculoskeletal Disorders?

Musculoskeletal disorders are common conditions that can impact your muscles, nerves, ligaments, tendons, bones, and joints.

Common symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries include pain, weakness, stiffness, and a “popping” sensation in the joint. Inflammation can lead to pain, swelling, warmth, tenderness, limited movement, and sometimes skin redness. When inflammation affects a joint, fluid may build up inside, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. For severe pain, appropriate treatments such as musculoskeletal conditions treatment, including physiotherapy, are recommended to alleviate symptoms and promote recovery from musculoskeletal injuries.

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs)

WMSDs (Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders) are conditions that develop gradually over time due to the repeated overuse of the body’s structures. Traumatic musculoskeletal injuries caused by accidents are not classified as WMSDs. Repetitive and frequent activities, or those that require awkward postures, can result in such disorders, which may be painful during work or even at rest.

Most jobs require frequent use of the arms and hands. As a result, desk-bound work can lead to pain in the hands, wrists, elbows, neck, and shoulders. For jobs that involve lifting, aches can develop in the legs, hips, ankles, and feet as well.

People who are more likely to experience WMSD include office workers, young mothers, delivery and construction workers, and healthcare professionals. Repetitive activities can also cause back problems, including neck pain after waking up, shoulder pain after waking up, lower back pain, and knee pain when bending. In addition, hip pain after running and poor weight management can also contribute to musculoskeletal discomfort. Incorporating back pain exercises can be beneficial in reducing the risk of developing these conditions.

What Are The
Risk Factors For WMSDs?

WMSDs (Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders) develop from repetitive movements of the arm and hand, like bending, straightening, gripping, holding, twisting, clenching, and reaching. While these motions are generally fine in everyday life, doing them repeatedly over time can lead to musculoskeletal injuries. Factors that can make these injuries worse include constant, forceful repetition, quick movements, and not giving your body enough time to recover. If left unaddressed, these can progress into more serious musculoskeletal conditions. Seeking the right musculoskeletal conditions treatment, such as physiotherapy, can help ease symptoms and prevent long-term damage.

Work Patterns Associated With WMSDs

Constrained/fixed body positions
Continuous and repetitive movements
Force applied to small parts of the body, such as the hand or wrist
Insufficient recovery between movements due to pace of work

These factors do not act separately to cause WMSD. Instead, they occur as a result of a combination of them.

People with WMSD will commonly experience pain. In some cases,these are accompanied by joint stiffness, muscle tightness, redness and swelling of the affected area. Some may experience “pins and needles” sensations, skin colour changes, and decreased sweating of the hands. If you’re experiencing pain, you are advised to seek a physiotherapist early to prevent further musculoskeletal complications.

Stages of WMSDs

WMSDs progress from mild to severe stages:

EARLY STAGE

Aches and fatigue occur during work but disappear at night and when off work. There is no effect on work performance.

INTERMEDIATE STAGE

Aches and fatigue experienced early in the work shift and persist at night. There is reduced capacity for repetitive work.

LATE STAGE

Aching, fatigue and weakness continue while at rest. There is difficulty falling asleep and performing light duties.

Not everyone experiences these stages in the same way. It is also not possible to determine when one has progressed to the next stage. The moment you experience pain, it is a sign that the muscles and tendons need rest. Otherwise, the injury can become longstanding, and at times, irreversible. The earlier you recognise symptoms, the quicker you should respond to them.

Our Recommended Treatments

At Rapid Physiocare, we offer a wide range of physiotherapy treatments for WMSDs and musculoskeletal conditions.

Progressive Strengthening Exercises: Musculoskeletal physiotherapy for pain relief
Clinical pilates: A low-impact exercise to improve flexibility & strength.
Shockwave Therapy: Uses shockwaves to trigger and accelerate healing.

Let us help you formulate an ideal treatment plan for your recovery. Get in touch with us at +65 6904 4900 or book an appointment at one of our clinics today!