What are Musculoskeletal Disorders?
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are problems affecting the muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, soft tissues and joints. Upper Limb Disorders (ULDs) are a sub-category of MSDs and are conditions that affect the neck, shoulders, hands and arms. There are a variety of jobs that involve a range of repetitive motions which can lead to the development of MSDs, but it has been found that by exercising the muscles affected, the long and short term negative effects of the repetitive motions can be reduced.
Eyes
Anyone who works for long periods at a computer screen should give their eyes a rest from time to time. Eyes may become fatigued if they are fixed on a screen or other object for long periods of time. The closer the eye has to focus on objects, the greater the load on the eye muscles, so a good way to avoid tiring the eyes is to focus on an object around 3 metres away for a duration of 15 seconds.
Neck
In the course of performing static or repetitive tasks, muscles are often held in a particular position or used over and over again for prolonged periods of time, this can lead to muscle fatigue. In the case of the neck, this can be minimised by performing ‘Neck Glides’; sit or stand up straight and glide your head back as far as it will go. Following this glide it forward as far as is comfortable and repeat these motions 3 times.
Shoulders
Like the neck, shoulders can become fatigued if they are kept in the same position or used repeatedly for long periods of time. To avoid this you can perform ‘shoulder shrugs’ by standing or sitting up straight and bringing the shoulders up towards the ears, holding them for a count of 3, and then relaxing and repeating three times.
Back
Suggesting an exercise to reduce back pain has to take into account potential issues for those who already suffer from back pain, but the ‘upper back stretch’ has been found to have minimal negative side effects. Cross your arms and raise your hands to rest on the front of the shoulders, then push against your shoulders for 15 seconds. Repeat three times
Breaks
Another factor that must be taken into account is the taking of breaks. Studies show that taking regular breaks, particularly from jobs that involve repetitive motions, can have a beneficial impact on the health and well being of the workers, without decreasing productivity.
What if you suffer from an MSD or ULD?
If you have developed a musculoskeletal disorder of any sort as a result of your work, you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Contact us today to find out how we can help you get the pay out you deserve.