Musculoskeletal problems not natural part of aging process, group says
Many employees believe that musculoskeletal disorders are simply part of growing old. However, researchers from the Industrial Accident Prevention Association, Canada's largest health and safety organization, said this is a common misconception and it is important to remind younger employees that MSDs can happen to anyone.
A surprising number of young people, the association said, are reporting MSDs at work and at home. For example, employers are seeing a significant increase in "BlackBerry® Thumb," a disorder caused by the repetitive and abnormal movement of the thumb while holding a personal digital assistant to tap out the message.
"While it's true that certain disorders, such as degenerative disc disease, are part of the aging process, it's possible to still have a healthy body as you get older," the group said. "It's not age that dictates the onset of an MSD, it's the risk factors that you're exposed to and your work practices."
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October 29, 2009 Copyright 2009© LRP Publications
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