Musculoskeletal disorders of the back, shoulders or even wrists have a “significant weight” in France, where almost 60% of women and half of men report pain related to these MSDs, according to a study published this Thursday, March 28, by Public Health France.
58% of women and 51% of men between 18 and 64 years old report pain related to MSDs in the back or upper extremities, which, together with other data, confirms “the significant burden that MSDs represent “notes the health agency.
Pain and discomfort
Only for salaried workers is the data comparable (60% among women, 54% among men), according to its 2021 Health Barometer, a large, randomly sampled telephone survey of health behaviors over the previous 12 months.
Musculoskeletal disorders include various diseases of the musculoskeletal system (muscles, tendons, nerves, joints) that cause pain and discomfort, often daily, caused or aggravated by work.
They constitute the main cause of occupational diseases: 88% of pathologies are compensated by the general health insurance scheme. The most frequently reported MSDs are low back pain, excluding sciatica, in the back, and shoulder MSDs in the upper limb.
For two very common disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome and low back pain, surgical interventions have remained “relatively stable” in number since 2018 (124,011 and 20,971 respectively in 2022).
However, from 2018 to 2022, the incidence rate of lumbar disc herniation decreased. In the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, it decreased in women and increased slightly in men.
Some inequalities
Socio-professional inequalities are confirmed: the frequency of MSDs in the back and upper extremities is higher among farmers and workers (for both sexes), artisans, merchants and business leaders (for men), employees (for women).
It is lower among executives and higher intellectual professions.
Certain sectors are at greater risk: manufacturing and construction rank first among men, human health and social action among women.
Public Health France recommends “priority targeting” these sectors “for prevention campaigns.”
Adapting jobs, work organization or limiting psychosocial risks are among the recommended actions. It is also recommended to reduce sedentary lifestyle.
Source: BFM TV
