Workshop: How to Diagnose and Treat a Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorder?

Abstract

WRMSD is the commonest occupational health condition across the world. WRMSDs can affect workers in the industrial, commercial, healthcare, hospitality, and service sectors. Occupations at high risk for WRMSDs include machine operators, parts assembly operators, manual and agricultural labourers, nurses and other healthcare professionals, computer or visual display unit users, typists, and musicians. Diagnosis of WRMSD can be controversial and challenging, especially since soft tissue evaluation requires specialised manual skills not usually provided in medical training. Symptoms of WRMSD are often poorly localised, nonspecific, and episodic. Accurate diagnosis helps determine the most appropriate treatment and protects the worker from treatments that are ineffective, unwarranted, or unnecessarily invasive (54%). The current best practices regarding investigations, treatment of WRMSD using a staged, comprehensive, multi-disciplinary protocol, and criteria for return to work will be discussed. Common WRMSDs like Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Tendinopathies, Compressive Neuropathies and Disc Disorders will be covered.