Musculoskeletal conditions affect bones, joints, muscles, and connective tissue. They can cause pain, limit mobility and dexterity, and impair overall functioning. Some common conditions include arthritis, back and neck pain, sprains, and tendonitis. These conditions are often caused by overexertion, repetitive motion, or bodily reaction — for example, bending or twisting the wrong way.

“With people who do physical work, I see a lot of overuse injuries related to improper movement,” explains Dr. Dennis Farid Khalili-Borna, who specializes in family and sports medicine at Kaiser Permanente. “If you move incorrectly, something that starts as a small strain can become something that gets flared up regularly.”

Musculoskeletal conditions can also occur when employees are too sedentary or lack ergonomic workstations. “Building movement into your workday is essential,” Dr. Khalili-Borna says when discussing the musculoskeletal hazards of office work. “And having an ergonomic workstation encourages proper posture while reducing neck strain.”
 

Low back pain is the leading cause of disability and productivity loss worldwide, and it poses a significant economic burden on businesses.⁷ 20% of workers who report low back pain miss more than a month of work, and 10% miss more than three months annually.⁸ The medical and pharmacy costs for those with low back pain are also roughly $2,400 higher compared to other employees.⁹

The true impact of knee pain

Knee pain affects nearly 1 in 2 people and accounts for 5% of all primary care visits, making it a critical concern facing your business.¹⁰ Employees experiencing knee pain can miss 19 days of work per year.¹¹ And those who suffer from osteoarthritis (a common cause of knee pain) can cost businesses $7,707 more in total annual healthcare costs.¹²
 

36% of musculoskeletal surgeries are unnecessary, and employers and health plans stand to save at least $90 billion per year if employees choose pain-relief methods like physical therapy over surgery.¹³ For Dr. Khalili-Borna, surgery is usually a last resort — something that should only be considered after someone suffering from a musculoskeletal condition has exhausted all other means of rehabilitation.

“If someone has a significant structural injury that won't get better, like a meniscus tear that’s causing instability, they might not be able to heal up their stabilizing structures without surgery,” he explains. “But for most minor injuries the body does a pretty good job healing itself, especially when it comes to neck and back issues.”

Musculoskeletal conditions can strain mental health

When your employees are managing chronic musculoskeletal pain or recovering from an injury, they’re not just missing out on work. They might be unable to do some of the things they love, including activities that give them a sense of community and identity. As a result, their mental health can take a hit. Studies show that people with higher levels of physical activity are less likely to develop depression or experience stress and anxiety.¹⁴ And your employees’ mental health can directly affect your business. Workers who rate their mental health as fair or poor miss an estimated 12 days of work annually due to mental health-related absences, which costs employers an average of $340 per day for full-time workers.¹⁵

How can employers help?

As a business leader, there are several ways you can support employee musculoskeletal health.

How to support employees with in-office or remote desk jobs

• Offer ergonomic assessments, training, and needed equipment
• Encourage non-static positions.
• Communicate the importance of taking regular breaks and stretching.
• Provide financial assistance for remote employees to set up an ergonomic workstation. This should include a desk or table; adjustable chair with lumbar and arm support; and an external monitor, mouse, and keyboard.
• Ensure that employees understand the risks of working at workstations with poor ergonomics.

Given that desk jobs provide little opportunity for movement and can lead to unhealthy behaviors like snacking, you might also encourage your employees to practice healthy lifestyle choices like regular exercise and eating healthy foods.

“For in-office and remote workers, we tend to gain weight as we become more sedentary and snack more often. Being sedentary can lead to core weakness, and carrying more weight can put pressure on our spine when we walk, which can cause back pain,” Dr. Khalili-Borna says. “When we look at a patient, we see if there are other healthy lifestyle modifications we need to make — like a change in diet or exercise — that can help them with improving their musculoskeletal condition.”

How to support employees with non-desk jobs

• Provide training on proper lifting techniques.
• Make mechanical assist devices available when possible.
• Offer height-adjustable workbenches.
• Ensure that tools and materials are within reaching distance.
• Schedule more breaks to allow for rest and recovery.
• Rotate workers through physically demanding jobs.

• Offers virtual physical therapy to encourage workers to remain engaged with their care — without having to make the choice between prioritizing their work over their health.
• Incorporates musculoskeletal care into a holistic, evidence-based, and personalized care plan — one that addresses comorbidities that might impact recovery.
• Offers same-day procedures for musculoskeletal injuries that require surgery, which avoids readmission costs and allows your employees to heal at home.
• Integrates your employees’ mental health into their overall care — so they’re better equipped to handle the physical, psychological, and emotional toll of managing or recovering from a musculoskeletal condition.

Dr. Khalili-Borna also suggests that employers offer modified work tasks for employees who are recovering from a musculoskeletal condition. That way, they can remain productive while continuing to heal. “Most commonly, people return to work and must perform tasks that aggravate their condition,” he explains. “Employers should try to accommodate an employee’s temporary physical restrictions, so they aren’t forced to take more time off work.”

Musculoskeletal conditions impact every workforce and every company’s bottom line. Employers can make it easier for employees to manage current musculoskeletal conditions and prevent future ones by offering affordable, accessible care alongside ergonomic education and equipment. By taking a proactive approach to promoting musculoskeletal health, employers can help reduce health care costs — and make a meaningful difference in their employees’ quality of life.