Work related musculoskeletal disorders is one of the serious rising concern all around the world leading to short term or long term disabilities among people.
What is work related musculoskeletal disorders?
Continuous usage of body parts in repetitive motion over the period of time with no sufficient recovery time in between can lead to injuries of muscles, tendons, ligaments or nerves. Frequent and repetitive activities in odd postures can cause musculoskeletal disorders painful at work or while at rest. Hands, arms, wrist, elbow, neck, shoulder, back, legs, hips, ankles, feet any body part can be affected depending on its usage.
Work related musculoskeletal disorders are also known as repetitive strain injuries or overuse syndrome.
Be it a high profile professional or a normal machine worker, some athlete or a chef all tend to suffer from musculoskeletal disorders in their course of career if proper management is not maintained.
What are some of the risk factors leading to musculoskeletal disorders?
Some common risk factors are:
- Continuous repetitive tasks
- Engaged in high force activities
- Improper Ergonomics while working
- Operating heavy loads
- Physical environmental conditions.
What are some common types of musculoskeletal injuries?
There are many but some most common types of work related musculoskeletal disorders are
- Tendonitis
- Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
- Rotator cuff injury
- Tennis Elbow
What is Tendonitis?
Tendonitis means inflammation of the tendons. Repetitive work or injury with rapid movement can lead to tendonitis. Lack of synovial fluid can lead to depletion of lubrication resulting in damage and injury to the tendons because of friction. There may be numbness, tingling, pain involving restriction of movements and weakness of grip eventually. The pain can occur in wrist, forearm travelling upwards to elbow and shoulders. People working on key boards, computers, playing musical instruments tens to suffer more from tendonitis.
What is Carpel Tunnel Syndrome?
Median nerve affection along with tendons can lead to numbness, tingling pain and weakness of the fingers of the affected are especially thumb, index finger, middle finger and half of ring finger . This mainly occur because of the repetitive movement of wrist especially flexion. Carpel Tunnel Syndrome is more common in people working in production units as assemble workers, sewing, packaging, cleaning etc. According to workers-comp-news.com, operators, fabricators and laborers have the highest chance of getting CTS (36.7%)
What Is Rotator Cuff injuries?
Rotator cuff muscles and tendons stabilize the shoulder joint. Rotator Cuff injuries affect the tendons of the shoulder joint leading to pain and stiffness of the parts. There may be pain in the shoulder on top and at times radiating to outer and front of shoulder. The pain in shoulder at times can hinder the normal sleep. The symptoms of pain may get worse lifting the arm over head or away on sides, reaching behind the back of body to fasten the clothing. Rotator Cuff injuries are more prevalent in females. People involved in heavy lifting, overhead working can lead to rotator cuff tendinitis. It can also be associated with co-existing medical disorders as diabetes mellitus, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and others. Sports individuals involved in golf, swimming are at higher risk.
What is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow affects the elbow tendon on thumb side or the arm. Repeated twisting arm movement can lead to tennis elbow. There is elbow/arm pain with difficulties in lifting items as groceries. Pain occurs when moving the wrist with force as lifting , opening jars, using brush etc. Tennis elbow mostly affects golfers, tennis player, basketball player, cleaners, gardeners, carpenters, mechanics and others.
These work related musculoskeletal disorders can be well treated using homeopathic medicines. Medicines are selected based on causation, sensation, location and modalities of the complaints along with radiation of the pain. Constitutional medicines are selected depending on symptoms and personality of the person leading to cure. Homeopathy helps to heal the tendons and ligaments strain in proper and right form. Homeopathic medicines as Arnica, Bryonia, Rhus Tox, Calcarea Carb, Ruta, Colocunth, Causticum, Cuprum met, Mag Phos, Guaiacum are some of the commonly used medicines for musculoskeletal disorders. Some self care is also important along with homeopathic medicines to heal the muscles faster.
Self Care
- Restrictions of movements
- Exercise regularly
- Use proper ergonomics at work
- Heat or Cold application on the affected part
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