Are you losing employees due to injury? Or are you losing money because of rising medical costs? Could MSDs be to blame?

“MSDs” are musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal Disorders are injuries and disorders that affect the human body’s movement or musculoskeletal system (muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs, blood vessels, etc.). In other words, MSDs are any ache, pain, numbness, or disorder relating to your skeletal system, muscles, or nerves.

Skeletal System:

This system makes up your body’s entire framework. Your bones, cartilage, joints, and connective tissues – ligaments and tendons – are included in the skeletal system.

MSDs that directly impact the skeletal system are sprains, strains, breaks, fractures, tendonitis, among others.

Muscles:

There are 3 different types of muscles in the body, but only 1 contributes to MSDs: skeletal muscle. This type of muscle is attached to your bones and helps you MOVE. These contract and relax to help you to run, to type, to chew, to stabilize yourself, and much more.

MSDs that directly impact the muscles are muscle strains, tears, overuse injuries, and more.

Nerves:

Your nervous system uses neurons to send signals all over your body. This helps you have sensorial experiences as well as guide your voluntary and involuntary movements.

Your nerves can undergo MSDs as well. Nerves can be damaged, pinched, or can play a part in the cause of unknown pain. Chronic pain can be associated with nerve pain, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when the nerve in your wrist is pinched.

 

MSDs are broad and encapsulate a myriad of aches, pains, injuries, and disorders. Check back in later to read Proactive MSDs blog, “Why Should I Care About MSDs?” to learn more about how they affect you.

 

Developing a proactive strategy is crucial to the continued success of your employees and your business. Schedule a consultation with a member of the Proactive MSD team today to learn more about developing a strategy to turn your current MSD spend into long-term savings while helping your employees move better and feel better.