Looking at US studies within the last decade, musculo-skeletal disorders like back pain and arthritis are the number one cause of worker disability, according to a new report from the Council for Disability Awareness (CDA).
Roughly one in three workers (34%) claiming social security benefits for disability suffered from muscle and joint pain, along with >30% of workers making private insurance claims. The report shows a continuing growth in the prevalence of musculo-skeletal (MSK) conditions in American workers. Between 1960 and 2011, the number of people receiving benefits for musculo-skeletal conditions quadrupled.
Growing rates of MSK conditions are likely the result of an aging working population. The fact that musculo-skeletal complaints are the number cause of worker disability may not come as huge surprise for many employees since some estimates say that up to 89% of office workers suffer from musculo-skeletal conditions. And a global study published in The Lancet showed that musculo-skeletal diseases were the second most common disability in the world.
If you want to reduce work loss from pains, why not look into our office based massage program for yourself and the workers. Along with our office massage work, we are offering a ‘Family for free in Feb’ program where our patients can bring their family members into the clinic for a free assessment. This may help to reduce their days off work, increase productivity and work satisfaction from their careers.
