Back to work for back pain sufferers

A new publication - ‘Work-related musculoskeletal disorders: Back to work report’ - launched to coincide with the event, focuses on the retention, reintegration and rehabilitation of workers with MSDs. MSDs are the most common work-related health problem in Europe, affecting millions of workers. Across the EU27, 25% of workers complain of backache and 23% report muscular pains. Manual handling, frequent bending and twisting, repetition of movements, heavy physical work and vibration are the main causes of MSDs. And the risk tends to increase with the pace of work, low satisfaction, high work demands and job stress. “MSDs reduce company profitability and also add to the social costs of government. But these disorders also strongly reduce the employability and working capacity of those affected. Therefore, tackling MSDs is morally and ethically important,” says Jukka Takala, director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.