Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) can have serious long-term implications that impact employers, the economy and sufferers’ lives. Prevention and early intervention is the best protection against Australia’s leading workplace injury, writes DAVID CAHILL, President of the Australian Chiropractors Association.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are Australia’s third largest health burden behind cancer and mental health. With around 7.3 million (29%) Australians currently living with chronic MSDs at a direct health cost of around $14.7 billion (2021-2022), and the overall cost to the Australian economy exceeding $55 billion annually through lost productivity, absenteeism, direct health costs and reduced quality of life; actively preventing WMSDs is everybody’s business.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are Australia’s third largest
health burden behind cancer and mental health.

WMSDs are predominantly caused by physical stress, mental stress, repetitive work and poorly set up non-ergonomic workspaces and account for the majority (57%) of workers’ compensation claims for serious injuries. They may be caused by a single work-related event, but commonly result from repeated, harmful workspace activities over an extended period causing a range of inflammatory and degenerative conditions that can affect the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves and supporting blood vessels.

What do the statistics say?

An independent national survey commissioned by the Australian Chiropractors Association, ‘The Impact of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders & Injuries in Australia’, aimed to better understand the prevalence of WMSDs among Australian workers. The data revealed some disturbing results.

The most prevalent WMSDs reported were low back pain at 62%, neck pain (55%), mid-back pain (53%) and headaches (52%). Of the 1001 respondents, 86.7% experienced a WMSD or injury either during work or due to their workspace. 73% suffered three or more WMSDs and 84% reported experiencing workplace stress, while 89% of workers who use a desk reported suffering a WMSD. 93% of workers who undertake repetitive movements, 88% who sit for prolonged periods and 87% of computer users reported experiencing WMSDs.

To measure the physical activity of WMSD sufferers, in September 2024, the ACA also conducted a member survey which found that of their patients who initially presented with a WMSD, the majority (50.5%) were described as having a sedentary level of physical activity compared to 34% who were ‘somewhat active’.

Workplace stress is also a significant contributor to WMSDs. 96% of those surveyed reported treating patients with spinal health issues linked to workplace stress while 42% indicated over 51% of their patients experience spinal health problems due to stress in their workplace. Almost half of ACA chiropractors surveyed (49%) reported prolonged sitting or doing desk work as the primary cause of WMSDs resulting from sedentary positioning, repetitive movements or failing to take regular breaks during work hours.

Body stressing caused by poorly executed lifting, pushing, pulling or bending, using computers in non-ergonomic workspaces (in an office or at home), poor posture, driving a vehicle and repetitive strain injuries can all contribute to WMSDs including chronic neck and back pain, shoulder stiffness and headaches.

Which industries are most at risk?

Those most at risk include community and personal service workers such as healthcare, aged care, childcare, NDIS and disability service workers. Tradies, labourers, technicians, drivers, and machinery operators, are also among those with the highest rates of physical work-related injuries.

Mental stress in the workspace can also impact workers physically and if left unchecked, possibly even triggering neuro-musculoskeletal disorders including migraine, tension and cervicogenic (neck-related) headaches that affect workers’ concentration, productivity, social engagement and their overall wellbeing and quality of life.

With MSDs ranked the third highest in the Australian Burden of Disease Study (2023) before cardiovascular disease, prevention and early intervention when injured at work will have a significant impact on reducing the instances of WMSDs, minimise their impact to prevent the long-term burden of MSDs, and reduce workers’ compensation claims and overall health costs to the Australian economy.

Protecting workers from injury

Prevention begins with employers engaging with employees to actively promote safe work practices for those at risk of acquiring a WMSD. Learning how to properly sit, stand, lift, bend and establish ergonomic workstations for computer users and desk workers should be a priority. But when injuries do occur, early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing deterioration, reducing severity, improving recovery and helping to prevent long-term implications, including the reliance on medications for chronic pain that can be harmful.

Although pain medications may offer temporary relief from back pain, recent academic studies reveal that opioids, commonly prescribed for this purpose, do not benefit people with acute low back or neck pain (lasting up to 12 weeks), and have no positive role in treatment of chronic low back pain. What’s more, opioids may cause serious side-affects and potential additional problems. While opioids may relieve back and neck pain in the short term, longer term outcomes are not improved with opioids.

With WMSDs leading to poorer quality of life, psychological distress, bodily pain and disability, it’s important that employers and workers most at risk are proactive when it comes to undertaking preventative measures.