Is lower back pain muscular or skeletal?

Is lower back pain muscular or skeletal? Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are the most common health problem in the workplace. Although they can affect any part of the body, the most common are located on the back, neck and upper extremities. Musculoskeletal disorders occur due to physical factors organizational and psychosocial factors.

Although physical or biomechanical factors of back pain are the best described in this blog, you will find all the most important information related to musculoskeletal disorders and musculoskeletal disorder prevention programs.

Disclaimer: Remember, this information by muniriyathse (safety zone) is for general knowledge only and shouldn't be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.

Is lower back pain muscular or skeletal consider?

The term musculoskeletal disorder relates to an injury to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, joints, cartilage, bones, or blood vessels of the arms, legs, head, neck, or back that is caused by or aggravated by job tasks such as lifting, pushing or pulling objects. Symptoms can include pain, stiffness, swelling, numbness, and tingling. Manual handling activities can create high-risk conditions for back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders.

Health problems range from discomfort, aches and pains to more serious medical conditions such as epicondylitis, ganglions, and lower back pain, which require requesting sick leave and even receiving medical treatment. The most frequent MSDs in the workplace are indicated below, depending on the anatomical part that is affected.

What are the most common musculoskeletal disorders?

The most common musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the upper extremity are:

• Arthritis is a group of conditions that cause joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. There are many different types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.
• Back pain can be caused by a variety of factors, including injury, poor posture, and muscle strain.
• Neck pain is another common problem that can be caused by a variety of factors, including injury, poor posture, and muscle strain.
• Muscle strain is an injury to a muscle that occurs when it is stretched or torn. Muscle strain can be caused by sudden movement, overuse, or repetitive motion.
• Tendonitis is an inflammation of a tendon, which is a tissue that connects muscle to bone. Tendinitis can be caused by overuse, repetitive motion, or injury.
• Scapular dyskinesis is a condition that causes pain and dysfunction in the shoulder blade due to overuse or repetitive motion.
• Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that affects the muscles and soft tissues. It is characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive symptoms.
• Bursitis is an inflammation of a bursa, which is a small sac of fluid that helps to cushion joints. Bursitis can be caused by overuse, repetitive motion, or injury.
• Fractures are breaks in the bones. They can be caused by a variety of factors, including injury, osteoporosis, and certain medical conditions.

Rotator cuff tendonitis

A rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that attach to the bones of the shoulder joint, allowing it to move and keeping it stable. Rotator cuff tendinitis refers to irritation of these tendons and inflammation of the bursa (a usually smooth layer) that covers these tendons. A rotator cuff tear occurs when one of the tendons pulls away from the bone as a result of overuse or injury.

Epicondylitis

Epicondylitis and Epitrocleitis are two conditions of the Tennis elbow is a painful condition that occurs when tendons in the elbow are overloaded, usually by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm. Osteoarticular or angioneurotic diseases caused by mechanical vibrations, forced postures and repetitive movements at work,  due to fatigue and inflammation of the tendon sheaths, peritendinous tissues and muscle and tendon insertions, nerve paralysis due to pressure.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is an example of a musculoskeletal disorder. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition that causes numbness, tingling, and pain in the hand and fingers. It happens when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes compressed at the wrist. When the median nerve is compressed, it can’t send signals to the hand and fingers properly. This can cause numbness, tingling, and pain.

Material Handling and Storage

Carpal tunnel syndrome is often caused by repetitive use of the hands, such as typing, texting, or playing video games. It can also be caused by pregnancy, obesity, and certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome usually start gradually and get worse over time. They may include:

• Numbness and tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and half of the ring finger
• Pain in the hand and wrist
• Weakness in the hand, making it difficult to grip objects
• Difficulty making fine movements with the hand, such as buttoning a shirt or tying shoelaces

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated with non-surgical and surgical methods. Non-surgical treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome include:

• Splinting the wrist
• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers
• Injections of cortisone or other medications
• Physical therapy

If non-surgical treatments don’t work, your doctor may recommend surgery to release the pressure on the median nerve. Surgery is usually successful in relieving the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s important to take steps to prevent the condition from getting worse. These steps include:

• Avoiding activities that put stress on your wrists
• Using a wrist splint or brace when you’re doing activities that require repetitive use of your hands
• Taking breaks from activities that put stress on your wrists
• Losing weight if you’re overweight
• Controlling your blood sugar if you have diabetes

Neck tension syndrome

Neck tension syndrome (NTS) is a condition that causes pain, stiffness, and muscle spasms in the neck. It is a common problem that can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Poor posture. Sitting or standing with poor posture can put a strain on the muscles and ligaments in the neck.
• Repetitive stress. Activities that require repetitive neck movements, such as typing or using a computer, can put a strain on the muscles and ligaments in the neck.
• Injury. A neck injury, such as whiplash, can cause pain, stiffness, and muscle spasms in the neck.
• Stress. Stress can cause the muscles in the neck to tense up, which can lead to pain, stiffness, and muscle spasms.

NTS can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

• Pain. The pain can be mild to severe and can be constant or intermittent.
• Muscle spasms. The muscles in the neck may spasm, which can cause sudden, sharp pain.
• Headaches. NTS can sometimes cause headaches.
• Tingling or numbness. NTS can sometimes cause tingling or numbness in the shoulders, arms, or hands.

If you have any of the symptoms of NTS, see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Treatment for NTS may include:

• Rest. Avoiding activities that aggravate the neck pain can help to relieve symptoms.
• Ice and heat. Applying ice or heat to the neck can help to reduce pain and inflammation.
• Stretching and strengthening exercises. Stretching and strengthening exercises can help to improve flexibility and strength in the neck muscles.
• Massage therapy. Massage therapy can help to relax the muscles in the neck and reduce pain.
• Physical therapy. Physical therapy can help to teach you how to improve your posture and how to do exercises to strengthen and stretch the muscles in your neck.
• Injections. In some cases, your doctor may recommend injections of cortisone or other medications into the neck to relieve pain and inflammation.
• Surgery. In rare cases, surgery may be necessary to relieve pain and improve function in the neck.

Prepatellar bursitis

A bursa (synovial sac) is a thin, slippery, sac-like film. Contains a small amount of liquid. This structure is found between the bones and the soft tissues in and around the joints. The synovial bursa protects and cushions a joint and prevents the parts that make up a joint from rubbing against each other.

The prepatellar synovial bursa is located on top of the patella. It’s just under the skin. If this bursa becomes irritated and inflamed, the condition is called prepatellar bursitis.

Audit in health and safety

Musculoskeletal disorders can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Age. The risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders increases with age.
• Genetics. Some people are more likely to develop musculoskeletal disorders than others due to their genes.
• Occupational hazards. Certain occupations, such as construction and manufacturing, can increase the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders.
• Physical activity. Too much or too little physical activity can increase the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders.
• Injury. A traumatic injury, such as a fall or car accident, can increase the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders.
• Medical conditions. Certain medical conditions, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and diabetes, can increase the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders.

Musculoskeletal disorders can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Weakness
• Numbness and tingling
• Difficulty moving

Musculoskeletal disorders back pain

Is low back pain a musculoskeletal disorder? Low back pain is the pain located in the lower or lower back, whose origin has to do with the musculoskeletal structure of the spine. Approximately 80% of the population has had or will have some low back pain during their lives and up to 70% of young people before the age of 16 have experienced this back pain.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the appearance of this symptom is favoured in actions involving bending movements or the combination of bending with twisting of the trunk, as well as jobs where the actions are repetitive, in vibrating and continuously overloaded environments in static positions.

Musculoskeletal Disorders and workplace factors

Many factors can contribute, by themselves or in combination, to the appearance of MSDs, but the application of physical force can be highlighted below. Physical and musculoskeletal disorders biomechanics risk factors include:

• Handling loads, especially when bending or twisting the body
• Vibrations, poor lighting or cold working environments
• Work at a fast pace
• A sitting or standing position for a long time without changing posture.
• Lifting, transporting, pulling or pushing loads
• Repetitive work, such as typing or painting
• Forced postures and static postures, such as when you remain upright or sitting for a long time or keep your hands above shoulder level
• The direct pressure on the body of tools and surfaces
• The vibrations, throughout the body and in the arms and hands
• Cold working environments, etc.

Organizational and psychosocial risk factors 

In addition, in the design of any job it is important to always consider the mental load and psychosocial factors; that is, the adjustment and adequacy between the demands of mental activity necessary for the execution of the work and the performance capabilities of the person.

• High work demands and low autonomy
• Lack of breaks or opportunities to change posture at work
• Working at high speed, also as a consequence of the introduction of new technologies
• Very long hours or shift work
• Bullying, harassment and discrimination at work
• Low job satisfaction.

In general, all psychosocial and organizational factors (especially when combined with physical risks) can lead to stress, fatigue, anxiety or other reactions, which, in turn, increase the risk of MSDs.

Individual risk factors

Finally, there are a series of individual factors that also contribute to the generation of MSDs: medical history, physical capacity, age, obesity, and smoking, are some the examples

• Medical history
• Physical ability
• Lifestyle and habits (such as smoking or lack of physical exercise).

Musculoskeletal disorders from poor ergonomics

The risk of most MSDs can be reduced by adapting the workplace to meet the individual needs of workers. This is often known as applying an “ergonomic” approach. Ergonomics deals with the interaction between people, machines and the working environment.

Ergonomics aims to minimize harmful health effects and optimize efficiency by adapting the workplace to suit the individual. This means taking into account both a person’s physical attributes (such as height, shape, muscle strength, etc.) and their mental attributes (processing speed, decision-making capacity, etc.).

Musculoskeletal disorders OSHA

OSHA carried out a draft overview of OSH in work-related MSDs. The goal was to study issues related to work-related MSDs, improve our understanding of these disorders, and determine how to effectively prevent them. The also organization review workplace policies and measures to prevent and manage chronic MSDs, including support for a return to work and rehabilitation of working people.

Occupational MSD risks fall within the scope of the OSH Framework Directive, which aims to protect people from work-related risks in general and establishes the company’s responsibility to ensure safety and health in the workplace. Some risks related to MSDs are addressed by specific directives, notably the Manual Handling Directive, the Display Equipment Directive and the Vibration Directive.

The Directive on the use of work equipment addresses the postures adopted when using work equipment and clearly states that companies must take ergonomic principles into account to meet the minimum OSH requirements.

Responsibilities of employer

Risk assessment: taking a comprehensive approach, evaluating and addressing all causes (see above). It is also important to consider working people who are most at risk of MSDs. The priority is to eliminate risks but also to adapt the work to people. Articulate an MSD policy to improve the organization of work and the psychosocial environment in the workplace and thus promote musculoskeletal health.

Preventive actions must also take into account technological advances in equipment and the digitization of work processes, as well as the changes that this entails in the ways of organizing work. In the MSD management approach, monitoring and health promotion should also be considered, as well as the rehabilitation and integration of people who already suffer from these disorders.

Participation: including workers and their representatives in discussions about possible problems and solutions.

Preventive action plan: After completing the risk assessment, a list of measures should be drawn up, in order of priority, and workers and their representatives involved in its implementation. The action must focus on primary prevention, but also on measures to minimize the severity of any injury. It is important to ensure that all workers receive adequate information, education and training on health and safety at work and that they know how to avoid specific hazards and risks.

Assessment of patients with a musculoskeletal disorder

There is no single method to assess MSDs, as it is the consequence of a work situation. Although the predominant factors that can produce an MSD can be evaluated. In addition to the measures already mentioned in the sections on workload and environmental factors, working with a computer, there are a series of considerations to take into account.

Having a musculoskeletal disorder

MSDs are the cause of many days off work, and aches and pains in our daily lives, but we can avoid Musculoskeletal Disorders in several ways:

• Avoid staying in the same posture for a long time.
• Take frequent breaks.
• Take advantage of them to do relaxation exercises.
• Arrange the work material in the way that is most comfortable for you.

If, in addition, you have a healthy diet, and walk every day to try to disconnect from work, you will improve your health. If you are suffering from permanent disability due to a spinal cord disorder, having lower back pain and the doctor prescribed permanent bed rest, there is no single solution except to follow the easy steps of experts for serious or unusual problems.

Conclusion

While both muscles and bones play a role in lower back pain, muscles are often the prime culprit. Studies indicate that non-specific muscular pain, like strains or spasms, is the most common cause of lower back pain. However, it's important to remember that pain can also originate from skeletal structures like joints, discs, and ligaments.

Determining the specific source of your pain requires professional medical evaluation. They can help identify the underlying cause and recommend the most appropriate treatment.

Here's a quick summary:

• Muscular pain: Very common, and can be caused by overuse, strain, spasms, or poor posture.
• Skeletal pain: Less common, and can involve joints, discs, or ligaments due to injury, degeneration, or inflammation.

Diagnosis: Seek professional medical help for accurate diagnosis and treatment.