Musculoskeletal Conditions
Q. What are musculoskeletal conditions?
A. Musculoskeletal conditions affect the nerves, tendons, muscles and supporting
structures of the body. They range from painful, but non-life threatening
conditions, such as bunions and carpal tunnel syndrome, to debilitating
conditions like lupus and muscular dystrophy. Among the most common musculoskeletal
conditions are the over 100 types of arthritis.
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Q. How do I know if I’m at risk?
A. You are at risk for some of the more common musculoskeletal disorders
if you are involved in heavy physical labor, don’t get enough exercise,
perform tasks with repetitive motions, have experienced trauma to your
musculoskeletal system (such as being in an auto accident), or if you
have poor posture. In addition, research shows that you may be more likely
to develop symptoms of certain types of arthritis and related conditions
if you are overweight and eat a poor diet.
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Q. What can I do to reduce my risk?
A. Although some musculoskeletal conditions are genetic, many are preventable
by practicing good behaviors. For example, you should eat a healthy, well-balanced
diet that includes plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grain products;
limit your intake of sugar, salt and fat (especially saturated fat found
in animal products), and take the recommended daily amounts of vitamins
and minerals.
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Q. I exercise regularly. Am I still at risk?
A. You could be. Although exercise is a good behavior, it’s important
to exercise safely and maintain your body’s flexibility. Make sure
to ease into any new activity or sport, and always perform warm up and
cool down exercises (such as light jogging or gentle stretching) to minimize
the chance of muscle strain or other soft tissue injuries. And, let injuries
heal completely before engaging in activity that might cause the injury
to recur.
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Q. If my job includes heavy physical labor, what should I do to
prevent musculoskeletal disorders?
A. If you do heavy physical labor, such as repetitive tasks, make sure to
use items like back support belts or wrist guards to minimize the chance
of injury. Also, maintain proper form when doing certain activities, such
as lifting (e.g., lift with your legs, not your back), as well as good
posture, and wear supportive, comfortable footwear.
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Q. For more information about this condition, where should
I go?
A. If you more information about this condition, you can check the
following websites:
National Institute
of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Medline Plus (A
service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National
Institutes of Health)
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