Author(s): Gareth Bolton, Dr Lisa Booth, Dr Paul Miller

Hospital: Institute of Health, University of Cumbria

Reference: RAD Magazine, 47, 558, 20-22

Excerpt: 

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) are a set of conditions characterised by persistent pain in the muscles, joints, bones, nerves and/or tendons. Typically caused and exacerbated by repetitive action and/or over-exertion, they have been a noted problem in the general UK workforce for a significant period. In 2019/20, the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimated that around 480,000 workers were suffering from a new or long-standing WRMSD, at a prevalence of 1,420 cases per 100,000 workers. Although there has been a slight downward trend in incidence over the last two decades, the latest HSE statistics indicate that around nine million working days are still being lost per annum due to this problem, which amounts to 27% of all health-related absence.