MSK pain in the workforce

What do 75% of employers rank among the top two conditions driving up their healthcare costs? Musculoskeletal (or MSK) pain and injuries.

MSK pain is a broad term for pain that affects the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. Employers spend an estimated $353 billion annually on treatments that help workers with musculoskeletal conditions, accounting for almost 15% of their total medical costs.

Why such a huge expense? Much of this is owed to the fact that MSK pain is quite common, with half of Americans saying they experience it. But it’s particularly prevalent in certain industries, creating an even bigger financial burden for those employers.

5 industries with high rates of MSK injuries

Let’s take a closer look at the industries where workers experience the most MSK pain—and what employers can do to help employees without stomaching unmanageable costs.

1. Healthcare, nursing, and social assistance

Healthcare and nursing may not be the first occupations to come to mind when you think of physically demanding or dangerous jobs. But, in reality, workers in this sector experience more injuries than any other industry.

MSK pain and conditions are a major problem, mostly due to difficult and highly physical patient care, such as helping to lift or reposition patients. In fact, nursing assistants were among the jobs with the highest rates of MSK disorders (conditions that cause MSK pain), accounting for 52% of the days nursing assistants had to take off work.

Research shows that back pain and injuries are prevalent among workers in healthcare. However, many also experience pain in the shoulders, neck, wrists, and even the lower legs. In one study, an alarming 97% of nurses complained of pain in the lower legs over the past year.

2. Manufacturing and warehousing

Picture a job in a typical warehouse or manufacturing facility, and you’ll envision a lot of lifting, bending, reaching, pushing, and pulling—likely all while standing on a hard, unsupportive surface.

All of those activities are risk factors for MSK disorders and pain. Research shows that overexertion (meaning excessive physical effort) is the most common issue that causes MSK injuries in this industry, with many workers experiencing muscle strains, tendinitis, carpal tunnel, and other injuries to the lower back or shoulders.

Additionally, warehouse and manufacturing work involves many repetitive motions, which can also lead to overuse and MSK injuries.

3. Construction

Similarly to warehousing and manufacturing, construction involves a lot of strenuous work. Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) is the largest cause of work-related illness in this industry. While MSD makes up 33% of all newly reported occupational illnesses in the general population, it comprises an alarming 77% of occupational illnesses in construction.

In one study of construction workers, the most common MSDs were:

• Lower back pain (20.8% of workers)
• Shoulder pain (11.7% of workers)
• Wrist pain (11.7% of workers)

In a separate study, foot pain was also common in this industry, largely due to all the time construction workers need to spend on their feet.

4. Transportation and delivery services

Moving and lifting heavy packages seems like the most obvious risk to transportation workers and delivery drivers, and it’s certainly a common problem. Lower back pain was experienced by 56% of these workers in one study.

However, sitting in one position for long periods of time is another significant (yet often overlooked) risk of these jobs. For example, a long-haul truck driver can drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour work period. That’s a lot of time spent sitting. The same study notes that these jobs often “involve prolonged static and inappropriate postures” that can lead to pain and MSDs.

So it’s unsurprising that, in one report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, MSDs were the top cause of injuries among “last mile” delivery workers—the term for people who transport packages to their final destination (such as an Amazon or UPS driver).

5. Retail and food service

Food service and retail are other industries that might not seem especially physically demanding at first glance.

Yet, people in these positions experience a lot of MSK pain and conditions. Similarly to many of the other industries, these workers are responsible for a lot of lifting, moving, and repetitive motions—compounded by the fact that they spend a good amount of their work time on their feet.

For example, 78% of grocery store workers reported work-related MSK symptoms in at least one body region, with 11% missing work because of symptoms. Research shows that working in kitchens can be equally difficult on the body, with a lot of standing, repetitive motions, and awkward positions. That leads to a high rate of MSK complaints in those positions, too.

How MSK issues affect the workplace

When a worker is dealing with ongoing aches, pain, and stiffness in their joints and muscles—especially if they’re in a job that’s taxing on their body—it makes sense that MSK pain would have a significant impact. MSK can affect both the worker and the employer by:

• Skyrocketing expenses: MSK pain is costly. Estimates vary, with MSK pain accounting for anywhere from 15% to 31% of total employer medical expenses. But cost is a major concern for workers, too. Half of the people who experience MSK pain don’t pursue traditional physical therapy simply because it’s too expensive. Additionally, 54% said their insurance didn’t cover enough sessions. Unfortunately, skipping physical therapy can lead to more disruptive and expensive interventions (like surgery) down the line.
• Increasing absenteeism: When a worker’s job requires the use of their body, pain and injury that prevents them from doing said job will require them to call out. This makes absenteeism another prominent side effect of MSK pain. 20% of workers who experience lower back pain, as just one example, miss more than a month of work each year.
• Reducing morale and performance: It’s tough for workers to stay positive when they don’t feel well. Persistent MSK pain and injuries can negatively impact engagement and performance. 27% of workers agree that MSK pain has decreased their productivity at work.

Bringing in a value-based COE program for MSK

It begs the question:

What can employers in these industries—or any industry where MSK pain is somewhat common—do to care for workers without having to deal with overwhelming and unsustainable costs?

There are plenty of steps companies can take to prevent or manage MSK injuries, such as focusing on more ergonomic work environments, encouraging frequent breaks and stretching, or providing training on safer techniques and postures for the demands of these jobs.

However, aside from those smaller changes, one of the best things they can do is bring in a value-based centers of excellence program like Carrum Health. Carrum can connect workers with high-quality MSK surgeries like joint replacements and spinal surgeries when needed.

However, one of the best aspects of a value-based surgical care program like Carrum is that it focuses on providing the most relevant and appropriate care. That means providers are incentivized to find the most effective treatment options, such as referring patients to physical therapy first if that seems like the most beneficial place to start. In one study, 30% of Carrum Health members who were originally recommended surgery were redirected to less invasive treatment options.

MSK pain is a significant problem in many industries, and it’s one that deserves meaningful solutions instead of being written off as a risk of the job.

Carrum helps employers and members get MSK care and treatment at a reasonable cost without compromising on quality. For employees in these industries, their bodies are the most important tools for their jobs. It’s up to employers to care for them accordingly.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. No material is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.