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[W1004]Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

by Abbey Grace Yap, Abb

The body is composed of hundreds of different muscles and bones working together to create movement. Each and every one of those bones and muscles has a delegated task to make the body function. However, there are times when problems cause muscles and bones to lose their ability to function. Musculoskeletal disorders have a variety of effects that can range from pain, muscle fatigue, to paralysis.

Musculoskeletal disorders, if left untreated, can be very damaging. It can dramatically affect your entire life by taking away your freedom to move. Here are some of the most common bone, joint, and muscle disorders that affect the American adult population:

1. Arthritis

This is a joint disease that is characterized by inflammation, pain, and immobility of the affected area. It can be caused by an auto-immune system malfunction, joint infection, natural degeneration, or high uric acid in the bloodstream. Aside from swollen and achy joints, most arthritis sufferers complain of tenderness, redness, and warmth on the area surrounding the affected joint.

2. Back pain (Dorsalgia)

This a musculoskeletal condition characterized by pain in the back, involving the muscles, nerves, bones, joints, and other structures connected to the spine. The pain is usually of different intensity, and can stay in one place or it may keep migrating to other areas of the spine (neck, upper, and lower back).

3. Foot disorders

The most common foot disorder is plantar fasciitis, wherein the thick padding that cushions the bottom of the foot (plantar fascia) becomes inflamed. Because the foot is the body's weight bearer and shock absorber, it is more prone to developing irritation and swelling. This disorder is most common in runners and dancers who spend a lot of time standing.

Now that you know the three most common musculoskeletal disorders, it is time to learn about the different ways to treat and manage these conditions. Here are some of the most commonly used treatments and means of managing musculoskeletal disorders:

1. Prescription medicines

Most doctors suggest managing musculoskeletal disorders with the help of Carisoprodol or other prescription-based muscle relaxers and pain relievers. High-grade pain relievers and muscle relaxers are used for moderate to severe pain. Most mild to moderate musculoskeletal pain and discomforts can be remedied by over-the-counter pain relievers.

2. Physical and occupational therapy

This therapy aims to restore mobility and flexibility of the affected joint. Physical and occupational therapists may require the use of devices such as the TENS machine and hot and cold packs to reduce pain and swelling of the affected area of the body.

3. Exercise

Engaging in low-impact exercises at moderated durations can help build up muscle tone, and it can help loosen and relax rigid muscles. Avoiding high-impact exercises prevent recurrence of the disorder. Also, exercising promotes losing weight which will help lessen the weight being carried by the spine and the feet.

4. Surgery

When musculoskeletal disorders reach critical level, doctors are left with no choice but to perform surgical operations - to either remove the damaged muscle or replace the affected joint.

Prevention is always better than cure. So it is best to keep the body healthy to avoid developing musculoskeletal conditions. Eat a well-balanced diet, keep yourself active and fit, and you're off to a muscle pain-free life.

If you are new to management you probably haven't felt quite the same kind of stress that you do now!

Now you are responsible for and to a team of people. You must define goals for your team, organize their work, make sure they do it well, deal with conflicts between people, cope with change, handle crises... Oh, and still get home in time to be there for your family and all their concerns!

It's natural to feel pressure or stress. It comes from feeling responsible, from having control, and from the need to exert control. And it can be a great motivator. Stress makes you alert, determined and focused.

But if you feel overwhelmed, then there's too much stress. And far from feeling alert, determined and focused, you may become dazed, confused and erratic!

There are things you can do to alleviate any excessive stress you feel. The first is to identify its cause(s). There are real causes and perceived causes. (Since perception is reality, the impact -- feeling excessive stress -- is the same.)

A "real" cause might be too much work -- where you have taken on, or been given, too many tasks -- and you simply don't have the time or resources to do them all.

In this case, you have a few options: get some help, arrange for an extended deadline, or offload some of the work onto someone else. If none of that's possible, then your only option is to do what you can. If some things don't get done, then so be it. So why not relax and accept that fact?

Sure, you may not meet your or someone else's original expectations, but they were unrealistic in the first place, so don't worry about them! Seriously.

If you've entered a marathon, are you going to beat yourself up because you can't win it, or because you can't run it in under two, three or four hours? No, you're just going to do the best you can.

The same principle -- yes, the same principle -- applies to taking on any tasks or responsibilities that are literally beyond your capabilities. Just do the best you can and accept the outcome.

Of course, there are times you can get something done by working more than your usual number of hours, for example by working late, or on the weekend.

Occasionally putting in an extra effort is fine. Even admirable. But if the extra hours become your usual hours -- and you don't like it -- be careful. Others will come to expect you to always work this hard and you may find yourself on a treadmill that's increasingly difficult to get off. Plus, your life outside of work (family, friends, hobbies, interests, and so on) is likely to suffer.

In other cases, the reason for your stress is perceived. You may be seeing a problem as being much, much bigger than it really is. You may be looking at a challenge in its entirety instead of breaking it up into small chunks. You may be struck by fear of failure or success.

If the stress you feel is caused by fear, know this: whatever you are afraid of, it hasn't happened yet. True?

Why not put off the negative feelings you're experiencing until it actually occurs! (Which it probably won't).

And another thing -- if there's something you can do to prevent the thing you're afraid of from happening, then do it. If you can't do anything -- how are you helping the situation or yourself by feeling afraid?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not "anti-fear." On the contrary, fear is real and it can also be a great motivator. But it can also strangle you. Try to use fear to get you want, and lose fear that doesn't get what you want.

Another perceived source of stress derives from having unrealistic expectations about what you can control or accomplish.

Really, as a manager, you must learn to know the difference between what you can control and what you can't -- and then simply focus all your energies on what you can control!

I know -- developing the wisdom to know the difference isn't necessarily easy. But it is the key. And you are on your way. Just keep reading articles like this one, listening to genuine experts and advisors, and, more importantly, observing and applying what "works" in the real world.

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Both Abbey Grace Yap & Anna Johnson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Abbey Grace Yap has sinced written about articles on various topics from Accounting Guide, Advertising Guide and Medicine. The writer, Abbey Grace Yap, is an active advocate for health consciousness and disease awareness. at DrugStoreTM.com. Abbey Grace Yap's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.

Anna Johnson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Generation Y, Careers and Job Hunting and Careers and Job Hunting. Anna Johnson is the author of the How To Manage People System, including her book, How To Manage People (Even If You're A Control Freak!). Get Anna's FREE 12-page report. Anna Johnson's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.