Musculoskeletal (MSK) -

You can't eliminate the pain. Its there all the time. All I want to do is get out of the pain.

Damian, 59- living with osteoarthritis

How Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions affect you

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Musculoskeletal conditions are typically characterised by pain (often persistent pain) and limitations in mobility, dexterity and functional ability, reducing people’s ability to work and participate in social roles with associated impacts on mental wellbeing.

Musculoskeletal conditions include conditions that affect:

joints, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis;
bones, such as osteoporosis, osteopenia and associated fragility fractures, traumatic fractures;
muscles, such as sarcopenia;
the spine, such as back and neck pain;
multiple body areas or systems, such as regional and widespread pain disorders and inflammatory diseases such as connective tissue diseases and vasculitis that have musculoskeletal manifestations, for example systemic lupus erythematosus

Pain and restricted mobility are the unifying features of the range of musculoskeletal conditions. Pain is typically persistent for long-term conditions. In some conditions, joint deformity may occur, where early diagnosis and treatment are not available.

Pain and joint stiffness limit movement, making activities such as spending time with family and friends or looking after a household much harder. Over half of people (57%) living with arthritis say they experience pain every day. These conditions disproportionately affect those who are socially and economically disadvantaged.

People with MSK conditions are less likely to be in work than people without health conditions, and more likely to retire early.

To find out more about your MSK condition click HERE

Preventing Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions

As people age, the risk of having a MSK condition rises. Modifiable risk factors, such as excess weight and physical inactivity, increase the risk of developing a MSK condition and can exacerbate an existing condition.

Maximising bone health across the life course involves ensuring we get sufficient vitamin D, eat a calcium-rich diet and take sufficient physical activity. This will not only improve bone strength but also keep muscles strong. At every stage of life people can take steps to improve their MSK health and reduce the risk of developing an MSK condition.

Many major MSK conditions can be avoided, or their symptoms reduced, by staying active throughout life, ensuring we include at least twice weekly balance and strength activities, eat a healthy diet, and are supported by a workplace that promotes MSK health.

Key risk factors to MSK health are physical inactivity, obesity, multimorbidity (living with other long term conditions) and falls.

Healthy aging is a key priority for everyone. There are certainly ways to help enhance our chances of aging well, including maintaining an active lifestyle. Physical activity and exercise not only are a great way to maintain a healthy weight, prevent chronic conditions and manage stress, they also help maintain strength, endurance and mobility as we age. These can be critical components to preventing falls which can lead to developing an MSK condition and pain.

Therefore Improving dietary health, increasing levels of physical activity, tackling sedentary lifestyles and preventing and tackling obesity are key to reducing MSK conditions and healthy aging.

In the work place

Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions such as back pain, neck pain and shoulder pain will be experienced by most adults at some point during their working life. They are a common cause of sickness absence but if they are identified early and managed well, most of the time they should not result in time off work.

Work plays a large role in keeping you healthy and evidence tells us that going to work is good for both your physical and mental health. It is important to look after yourself at work and ensure you inform your employer if you are having MSK related issues so they can make reasonable adjustments that enable you to stay in work.

How to improve your health with a MSK condition

Care planning for people with musculoskeletal conditions is important so if you don’t already have a care plan then speak to your doctor about having one. Care planning is an approach people with long term conditions can use to mange their health and wellbeing. It centres on a collaborative conversation between you (the person with a long term condition) and a health care professional, and includes the development of goals, and actions which are recorded and shared. The care plan will help with self management of your condition and the health and care treatment/services you might receive.

Manging pain

Evidence shows that if people with persistent pain engage with simple pain management strategies it can improve their function, mental health and quality of life. This active approach is the most effective way of management persistent pain. The following tools and resources can help with pain management

Pain management toolkit

Pain management

Tame the beast

Escape pain

Medication

If you take medication for your condition it is important to take it as prescribed to get the best benefit. Read the information that comes with your prescription and talk to your pharmacy about possible side effects. You can find out more about the types of medications for MSK conditions HERE

Physiotherapy

Musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapists provide advice and treatment for a wide range of orthopaedic and rheumatological conditions that affect joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons – for example, sports injuries, lower back pain, complex pain conditions and after some surgical procedures. You can find out more about local physiotherapy HERE

Physical Activity

As previously stated being physically active is good for MSK conditions and overall health improvement. If you are worried about the exercises you can do or have not been active for a while speak to your doctor or physiotherapist. The Live Active scheme is available for people with long term conditions and they will design an exercise programme around you. Find out more about Live Active HERE

Health Improvement

Improvement to your overall health can be achieved even with a MSK condition. In fact if you eat better, exercise more, give up smoking if you smoke, drink alcohol within guidelines and lose weight, you will find not only will your overall health and wellbeing improve but your MSK symptoms will improve also. Locally there are services to help with being healthier, you can find out more HERE

Read how regular exercise and a healthy diet has helped Mel manage her pain and stiffness from osteoarthritis. Mel’s story

Work and your wellbeing

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Stay Active

this will keep your joints and muscles mobile and prevent stiffness

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Eat a balanced diet

Getting the right nutirients is important for bone and joint health

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Stay a healthy weight

being over weight can put added strain on your joints

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Living with Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions

MSK conditions can impact people of all ages! Yet, the prevalence of these conditions tends to increase with age and may complicate the ability to complete simple and essential daily tasks. Inevitably, aging is a risk factor for developing MSK injuries due to, for example, the progressive loss of muscle mass and a decline in muscle strength that increases the likelihood of injury from sudden falls^.

Depending on how much pain and stiffness you feel, simple daily tasks may become difficult or take longer to do. You may need to adapt the way you do everyday tasks, or make changes to your lifestyle, to help you manage your condition. The impact of MSK conditions on basic tasks such as sitting for long periods, climbing stairs, grasping objects and reaching or carrying objects can have a marked impact on day to day living and working and can make it difficult to do the things we know are good for us, such as exercising or eating well. It is important though to try and manage by adopting the following as part of your daily routine.

Self care is an important part of daily life. It involves taking responsibility for your own health and wellbeing with support from people involved in your care. It includes what you do every day to stay fit and maintain good physical and mental health, prevent illness and accidents, and manage minor ailments and long-term conditions. People who have a long-term condition, such as Musculoskeletal conditions can benefit enormously from being supported to care for themselves. It will enable you to live longer, have a better quality of life, and be more active and independent. Find out more about managing your symptoms HERE

It’s important to take your medicine as instructed, even if you start to feel better, as medicine can help prevent flare-ups and reduce the risk of further problems. If you have any questions or concerns about the medicine you’re taking or side effects, talk to your pharmacist or healthcare team. It may also be useful to read the information leaflet that comes with the medicine, as this tells you about possible interactions with other medicines or supplements. Check with your pharmacists or healthcare team before taking any over-the-counter remedies, such as painkillers or nutritional supplements. These may interfere with your medicine.

There are various evidence based treatments that can help with MSK symptoms, it is important to find out what works for you by speaking to your doctor or health care team. You can find out more about treatments HERE

Regular exercise and a healthy diet are recommended for everyone, not just people with MSK conditions. They can help reduce your risk of many conditions, including heart disease and many forms of cancer.

Exercising regularly can help relieve stress, help keep your joints mobile, and strengthen the muscles supporting your joints. Exercise can also help you lose weight if you’re overweight, which can put extra strain on your joints and muscles. But it’s important to find a balance between rest and exercise. Rest will make inflamed joints feel more comfortable, but without movement your joints will stiffen and your muscles will become weaker.

Find the best activities and the right balance for you. It’s usually best to increase the amount of exercise you do gradually. You can find out about the right exercises for your HERE

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Physical activity for Musculoskeletal pain

This information leaflet contains a summary of key information and practical tips on physical activity for people with Musculoskeletal pain.

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About Musculoskeletal (MSK)

How Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions affect you

Preventing Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions

How to improve your health with a MSK condition

Work and your wellbeing

Stay Active

Eat a balanced diet

Stay a healthy weight

Living with Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions