Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the most common work-related ailments. Millions of workers are affected througout world by MSDs and it costs employers billions of euros. Tackling MSDs is a profitable move as it helps improve worker's health and their general wellbeing.
Work-related MSDs affect the back, neck, shoulders and upper limbs as well as the lower limbs. The MSDs designation includes any damage or disorder of the joints or other tissues. Health problems range from minor aches and pains to more serious medical conditions requiring time off or medical treatment. They can even cause disabilities leading to the inability to work in more chronic cases.
+ information on MSDs
+ informations on physical activity
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Sedentary behavior, classed as any period of very low physical activity spent sitting
or lying down (outside of normal sleeping pattern), is a risk factor for poor health and
workplace performance, independent of weekly physical activity levels.
Workplace wellbeing programs can provide employers a leadinf edge and are increasingly expected by employees.
Regular physical activity has a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits
for individuals including the ability to address common causes of absenteeism,
thus benefiting corporations.
Regular physical activity can also enhance workplace productivity and performance.
Technology
Real time and sensorless
DEM provides solutions for the detection and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace.
The algorithms developed by DEM are based on computer vision and artificial intelligence technologies.
Those technologies enable our solutions to do away
with any sensors or connected objects worn by the user, making the solution unobtrustive and therefor as closely aligned with the user's professional reality as possible.
DEM's algorithms were developed in collaboration with ergonomists and physical trainers, who played a key role in the development of the software.
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MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS (MSDS)
Causes
MSDs can be caused by several risk factors : Chances of having an MSD increases proportionally to the risk factors' number and intensity.
Biomechanical factors
The main biomechanical factors are the repetitiveness of gestures, excessive efforts, extreme
articular zones, work in a maintained position, determined by the job's different characteristics (the post's layout, work's organization,...):
Gestures' high repetitiveness
Overexertion
Important joint areas' sollicitation
Work in a maintained position
Lacks of breaks or alternation in tasks as well as excessive working hours are organizational factors
that increase the risk of MSDs as they do not allow enough time to recover.
To reduce MSD's risk of apparition, it is essential to point out
the risk factors present (efforts, repetitiveness, stress,...) and to identify
their determinants or causes (equipment design, frequent breakdowns, tool design,
work organization...).
Spotting risk factors and determinants makes finding
avenues for prevention possible.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect almost all professions and companies of all sizes: they
represent a major occupational health problem. The prevention of these diseases is a considerable
challenge for companies and their employees' well-being.
The socio-economic consequences of MSDs development are numerous:
On an individual scale : MSDs result in functional incapacity and suffering that can compromise
job retention, the employees' performance on everyday tasks and professional projects
On a social scale : MSDs can disrupt the balance of personal life
(e.g. limited leisure time)
On the compagny scale : MSDs require legislative reinforcement and
an appropriate support policy
Schematically, there are 3 families of costs for companies:
Direct costs
This kind of costs is directly linked to MSDs and their management. They are composed of:
health insurance contributions in the same way as work-related accidents (employer account),
benefits paid for sick employees (absence, care),
costs related to the research for and implementation of workstations adptation for the victims,
time spent managing the files of affected employees.
Indirect or regulatory costs
They are related to the dysfunctions induced by MSDs.There are 4 categories of dysfunction:
absenteeism and departures,
loss of productivity: pace in the movements and replacements of competent people who have become unfit,
the loss of production capacity: deadlines, capacity and quality,
the work atmosphere degradation.
As those costs can be partly caused by something other than MSDs, their carefully evaluated (for example absenteeism has multiple causes). MSDs share can be appreciated
but not strictly measured.
Strategic costs
MSDs impact the company's ability to mobilize its resources to gain or maintain a competitive
position. Strategic costs are not a line-item accounting assessment, but they do inform the key
limitations that MSDs pose to the company's capabilities.
Capacity limits can be:
social: risk of conflict or exhaustion,
production: increased cycle times due to restrictions,
economic: MSDs induced impact of overstaffing on prices and competitiveness,
or ethical: degradation of the company's image in the eyes of customers or as an appealing place to work.
For instance,numerous tempory workers filing in for absent employees, often due to MSDs, can heigten the risk of compromising the quality.
In each company strategic costs are qualified by the management and the staff representatives.
Approximately 1.71 billion people have musculoskeletal conditions worldwide.
Among musculoskeletal disorders, low back pain causes the highest burden with a prevalence of 568 million people.
Musculoskeletal conditions are the leading contributor to disability worldwide, with low back pain being the single leading cause of disability in 160 countries.
Musculoskeletal conditions significantly limit mobility and dexterity, leading to early retiremennt from work, lower levels of well-being and reduced ability to participate in society.
Due to population growth and aging demographic, their is a rapid increase in the number of people experiencing muskuloskeletal condition.
The disability associated with muskuloskeletal conditions has been increasing and is projected to continue to increase in the next decaded.
Sources : World Health Organization
Taking action on MSDs by promoting a prevention oriented culture and recognizing the economic and societal implications for organization
provides all stakeholders in the professional world with more effective tools to preserve the health of their employees.
Physical and Sports Activity
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AT WORK
Physical activity and sport are excellent ways to improve workplace relationships, morale and team unity.
“Sport holds benefits not only for individual health but also for group cohesion and performance and organisational benefits such as increased work performance.
”1
Physical activity in the workplace programs have been shown to reduce absence by 20%. 2
Physically active workers take 27% fewer sick days. 3
The return on investment (ROI) for physical activity in the workplace programs is a £34 return for every £1 invested. 4
Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour are harmful to the employees health and have significant impact on sickness absence, presenteeism and workplace performance.
The annual cost of physical inactivity for UK businesses is £6.6billion
Physically inactive workers lose up to four and a half working days per year compared to those who are active, through absence and presenteeism.
Those who are active have lower risk of depression, anxiety and stress and physical activity helps to reduce symptoms and manage existing conditions.
Workplace morale, teamwork and concentration are improved by physical activity and sport.
The lack of physical activity is one of the primary causes of both long-term and short-term sickness absences, with the top three causes of long-term sickness and two of the top three short-term causes being associated with physical inactivity.
Physical activity reduces absence, reduces presenteeism, improves performance, physical and mental health and provides a significant return on investment.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTH
Regular physical activity as well documented benefits for both the body and the mind. and mental health benefits of physical activity and exercise are well documented.
According to the NHS, it is medically prouven that people who engage in it have :
A 30% lower risk of early death
Up to a 35% lower risk of heart disease and stroke
Up to a 50% lower risk of type 2 diabetes
Up to a 50% lower risk of colon cancer
Up to a 20% lower risk of breast cancer
Up to 83% lower risk of osteoarthritis
Up to 68% lower risk of hip fracture
Up to 30% lower risk of dementia
A 30% lower risk of falls (amongst older adults) 5
Sources :
BRINKLEY, A., MCDERMOTT, H. and MUNIR, F., 2017. What benefits does team sport hold for the workplace? A systematic review. Journal of Sports Sciences
Health, Work and Wellbeing Programme - Working for a healthier tomorrow 2008
Building the Case for Wellness, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, 2008
British Heart Foundation, Health at Work - Economic evidence report for workplace health, 2016
