ErgoInfo
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)
Signs and Symptoms
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs):
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are injuries or disorders of the muscles, tendons, joints, nerves, ligaments, and vertebral discs. When these tissues are stressed on a regular basis without adequate time for recovery, they can eventually become damaged and lead to the development of MSDs.
Signs & Symptoms
Signs: can be physically observed, felt or heard
- Redness, swelling, reduced range of motion, loss of strength, etc.
Symptoms: cannot be seen but can be felt by the individual
- Pain, discomfort, aching, numbness, tingling, burning sensation, stiffness, fatigue, etc.
Stages of MSDs
Mild
Beginning of physical discomfort such as light pain.
Symptoms: Pain, aching, fatigue
Onset: Weeks or months
Job Performance: Not affected
Visible Signs: None
Treatment: May be reversible if treated early
Moderate
Increased physical discomfort such as more frequent and intense pain.
Symptoms: Pain, aching, fatigue, sleep difficulty
Onset: Months
Job Performance: Decreased
Visible Signs: May be present
Treatment: Difficult and slower recovery
Severe
Persistent physical discomfort such as intense and prolonged pain.
Symptoms: Constant to intense pain, fatigue, sleep difficulty
Onset: Months to years
Job Performance: Unable to perform job duties
Visible Signs: Often present
Treatment: Greater risk of permanent damage
Not everyone experiences these stages the same way. It may be difficult to know when one stage ends and the next begins. The earlier symptoms are recognized, the sooner the progression of pain may be reduced and/or eliminated.
Comments are closed.