Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder Management

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders span a wide range of conditions, from acute traumatic injuries sustained on the job to the insidious onset conditions that develop over months or years of cumulative occupational loading. Management at this practice is tailored to the specific disorder, the specific occupational demands, and the specific stage of the condition.

For acute injuries (the back strain from a lifting incident, the wrist injury from a slip and fall) management follows the same evidence-based acute injury protocol used for sports injuries: accurate diagnosis, appropriate acute loading, progressive rehabilitation, and a structured return to the specific demands of the role. For chronic conditions, the lower back pain that has been present for years, the shoulder impingement that has progressively worsened over a career of overhead work, management requires a more comprehensive approach that addresses the movement habits, strength deficits, and postural patterns that have accumulated alongside the condition.