Working with chronic musculoskeletal disorders.

Executive summary Introduction In Europe there are an estimated 120 million chronic musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) sufferers or one in four of the population ( 1). While MSDs have negative impacts on quality of life, they also have economic consequences, which may be as high as 2 % of gross domestic product in the EU (2). As the working population ages and official retirement ages rise, more workers are likely to have a chronic condition, which increases the need for employers to retain workers and for health, social and employment services to support that process. Work needs to be made sustainable across the course of working life. Importantly, workers do not need to be fully fit to work, and with the right support many people with chronic conditions can continue working. This report provides practical advice on issues related to working with chronic MSDs and what can be done to support individuals who have developed a chronic MSD to allow them to continue to work. It includes practical advice and examples of workplace adjustments, and the conclusions include some pointers for policy-makers. A second report linked to this one, containing eight case examples of individuals working with chronic MSDs, an analysis of the cases, three articles and an information sheet, provides further information (3) (4) (5) (6) (7). What are chronic MSDs? These are chronic problems that affect the muscles, bones, joints and soft tissues. This includes disorders without a precise cause such as chronic back pain or chronic upper limb disorders, as well as rheumatic diseases and degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis or osteoporosis. Conditions caused or aggravated by work are known as work-related MSDs. In the medical field, conditions are more commonly referred to as rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders (RMDs). For the purposes of this report, chronic MSDs are those that last more than 12 weeks. The impact of chronic MSDs on individuals Chronic MSDs can have different levels of impact on the individual, ranging from mild discomfort to unbearable pain. Although the pain is not always severe, it is often persistent, nagging and wearing. The severity may vary, often unpredictably. The pain can make repetitive movements difficult. The conditions often cause stiffness, and sufferers can take a while to get moving. Sleep can be disturbed, which can make it more difficult to ignore the pain. People can become tired and even fatigued, particularly those with an inflammatory disease or those whose sleep is disturbed. Being stressed, anxious or depressed because of the pain or for other reasons also makes it harder to ignore the pain. People with a chronic condition often worry about the future, in relation to whether their limitations will increase or they will lose their job. Some conditions are characterised by flare-ups, so sufferers will have good and bad days. If an employer is believed to be unsympathetic, presenteeism may occur, whereby a worker continues to work as best they can in unsatisfactory conditions, afraid of losing their job; however, they become increasingly less productive, and the situation increases their stress levels and worsens their condition.