Musculoskeletal Changes and Impact of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy

Introduction

Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders are among the top ten leading causes of years lived with disability.

Prevalence

The problem – High prevalence of MSDs among children and young people

● Prevalence of MSDs in children and young people (7 to 26.5 years old) who have not yet entered the labor market is very high at approximately 30%. ● Average prevalence in young workers (15 to 32 years old) who have entered the labor market is slightly higher approximately

Importance of promoting the musculoskeletal changes of children and young people

Young people are coming into the workplace with pre-existing MSDs that can potentially be exacerbated by work.

A life course approach to addressing musculoskeletal conditions and musculoskeletal health (starting from childhood)
is needed.

This approach has the potential to enhance understanding of how and why musculoskeletal conditions occur over the
life course and how musculoskeletal health can be promoted.

Preventing MSDs in children and young people will help to decrease the prevalence of MSDs among workers
(regardless of their

Tackling MSDs is feasible and very possible

Most of the risk factors associated with a higher risk of MSDs in children and young people are preventable and
manageable. Some of them include:

● Overweight
● Physical inactivity/sedentarism
● Sport injuries
● Poor or incorrect postures

Role of physiotherapy in MSD’s

– Education and training is effective in increasing knowledge and awareness
– Exercises, movement, physical activity have rapid success in the prevention or reduction of MSDs.
– Ergonomic equipment in addition to training has a positive effect.
– Prevention education programmes and moderate physical activity can effectively reduces accidents and injuries.

MSDs prevention in vocational training and in working young people

Musculoskeletal physiotherapy majorly focuses on the biomechanical and structural rehabilitation of the patients or an
individual. Their main goal is to maximize the potential of functional movement of the individuals so that they can
perform their daily activities in a proper manner.

Musculoskeletal disorders mainly focuses on :

– Degenerative changes(E.g – Arthritis, frozen shoulder)
– Neck pain
– Back pain
– PIVD
– Sciatica
– Sports injuries
– Post fracture stiffness
– Post surgical stiffness (TKR – Total Knee Replacement, THR – Total Hip Replacement etc.)
– Traumatic injuries,
– Ligament injuries,
– Sprain and strain
– Aching
– Muscle Weakness or fatigue
– Stiffness of the entire body
– Fibromyalgia
– Sleep Disturbances
– Pulled muscle
– Twitching muscles
– Reduced or loss of range of motion
– Congenital conditions
– Muscle imbalance

The physiotherapy treatment includes following techniques :

– Pain management
– Electrotherapy – This includes TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation), IFT (Interferential Therapy), US
(Ultrasonic Therapy), Nerve stimulation.
– Manual therapy – which includes muscle releases, mobilization, manipulations etc.
Exercise therapy – includes stretching exercises for tightening muscles, strengthening exercises for weak muscle,
core strengthening exercises, theraband exercises, close and open chain exercises etc.

Physiotherapy contributes to the patient recovery and enhance the quality of life in various ways:

• Improves muscle strength, flexibility and mobility.
• Improves range of motion of joints and quality of movement.
• Improves balance, coordination and control of the movement.
• Relieves pain or gets rid of it, entirely.
• Helps the patient or an individual to develop coping strategies to help them deal with pain or difficulty in
performing the daily activities of living during the recovery process.
• Helps you to attain the physical exercise or fitness goals.
• Helps in educating and consolidating healthy ways of moving to lessen the possibility of developing
musculoskeletal disorders in the future