Work-related musculoskeletal disorders often develop in jobs requiring physical activity but can also occur in people who sit for extended periods or perform repetitive hand motions.

Workplace musculoskeletal injuries are particularly prevalent in physically demanding jobs involving heavy lifting. Common areas where injuries occur include your:

  • knees
  • back
  • shoulders
  • arms

Workplace injuries can involve various tissues such as:

  • muscles
  • bone
  • tendons
  • ligaments
  • cartilage
  • bursae
  • nerves

Let’s examine some of the most common work-related musculoskeletal disorders, their potential symptoms, and treatment options.

Many types of workplace musculoskeletal injuries can occur. Some of the most common types of injuries include:

  • Tendon injuries: Tendons are pieces of connective tissue that connect your muscles to bone. They can become injured from sudden injuries that cause them to overstretch or from repetitive stress. Inflammation of a tendon is called tendonitis.
  • Muscular injuries: Muscle strains can occur from repeated trauma over time. Some muscular injuries also occur due to sudden injury.
  • Nerve injuries: Your nerve can become damaged with repetitive motions, awkward positions, or compression from other tissues.
  • Bursitis: Bursitis is inflammation of fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between your tendons and bone. Bursitis is a common repetitive use injury.
  • Bone injuries: Repetitive trauma can lead to a crack in one of your bones called a stress fracture. Sudden injuries can lead to broken or bruised bones.
  • Sprains: Sprains occur when you damage ligaments in a joint. They commonly occur in your ankles.
  • Slips and falls: Slipping or tripping injuries make up about 20% to 40% of disabling workplace injuries. They can lead to many types of injuries such as sprains or broken bones.

The following are some specific types of injuries that are common in the workplace:

  • Shoulder impingement: Shoulder impingement is a common cause of shoulder pain that occurs when your shoulder blade compresses your rotator cuff muscles.
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome: Carpal tunnel syndrome is the compression of the median nerve in your wrist. It’s common in people who perform repetitive hand and wrist movements.
  • De Quervain’s syndrome: De Quervain’s syndrome is painful swelling around your thumb tendons. It’s usually caused by repetitive hand and wrist movements.
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome: Thoracic outlet syndrome is compression of the nerves and blood vessels in your lower neck and upper chest. It often develops from repeated vigorous arm movements.
  • Herniated disc: A herniated disc is commonly caused by lifting heavy objects. It occurs when the jelly center of one of your spine discs protrudes out of its tough casing.
  • Lower back pain: Lower back pain is extremely common and has many causes, including muscular injuries or a herniated disc.
  • Tennis elbow: Tennis elbow is swelling in the tendons that allow you to extend your forearm. It’s often caused by repetitive extending of your forearm.
  • Rotator cuff injury: Your rotator cuff is a collection of muscles that help stabilize your shoulder. They’re prone to damage from repetitive shoulder movements.

Most work-related musculoskeletal disorders develop over time from repetitive stress. Factors that can increase your risk of injury include:

  • handling heavy loads, especially when bending or twisting
  • repetitive or high-force movements
  • maintaining awkward or prolonged postures
  • exposure to vibrations or cold working environment
  • fast-paced work
  • prolonged sitting or standing
  • prior history of injury
  • prior history of lack of physical activity
  • smoking
  • increasing age
  • male sex, possibly due to working in more high risk jobs

Musculoskeletal disorders often cause pain and other related symptoms like:

  • stiffness
  • swelling
  • tenderness
  • bruising
  • limited range of motion

Symptoms vary depending on your underlying injury. Here are some examples:

ConditionSymptoms
carpal tunnel syndrome? numbness or tingling in your thumb and fingers
? weakened grip
shoulder bursitis? shoulder pain
? stiffness
? trouble lifting your arm
rotator cuff injury? shoulder pain
? stiffness
? problems reaching behind your back
tennis elbow? outer elbow pain
? pain that gets worse when moving your elbow
de Quervain’s syndrome ? pain around your thumb
? problems pinching or gripping

It’s important to get immediate medical attention any time you have a serious injury at work, such as a fall that may have led to a broken bone or sudden pain along your spine that may suggest a herniated disc.

It’s also a good time to see a doctor if you develop progressively worsening pain that does not get better with time and rest.

You might receive a diagnosis in the emergency room if you have a serious traumatic injury. Milder injuries that develop over time might be diagnosed by a primary doctor or another health expert like a physiotherapist.

Initial tests you might receive include:

  • review of your personal and family medical history
  • review of your symptoms
  • physical exam where a healthcare professional may:
    • touch certain areas
    • move your body in certain motions
    • check for swelling or discoloration

Other tests you might receive include:

Treatment for your injury depends on your type of injury. Your doctor might prescribe or recommend:

Taking precautions can help workers and employers avoid workplace injuries.

Workers

Ways you may be able to reduce your injury risk include:

  • following your workplace safety requirements
  • considering seeing a physiotherapist or occupational therapist if you start to develop pain
  • minimizing twisting and bending motions
  • following good technique when lifting heavy objects
  • considering using a standing desk
  • making sure your monitor is positioned properly

Employers

Some ways you can protect workers are by:

  • increasing mechanization
  • job rotation for repetitive tasks
  • modifying workplace layout, tool and equipment design
  • providing proper safety equipment
  • conducting pre-placement physicals
  • inspecting vehicles regularly

Musculoskeletal injuries are common in the workplace.

People with physically demanding jobs might develop problems from repetitive movements or sudden and traumatic events. People working sedentary jobs might develop problems from repetitive hand and wrist activities or prolonged sitting.

Following proper workplace safety guidelines can help you minimize your risk of injury. However, accidents still do happen occasionally, and it’s important to get medical attention if you develop severe pain or pain that continues to get worse.