Occupational Health and Musculoskeletal Disorders

Occupational musculoskeletal disorders encompass a range of conditions affecting muscles, tendons, nerves and joints that arise or are exacerbated by work activities. They represent a leading cause of pain, disability and lost productivity worldwide, with particular burden in occupations involving repetitive movements, awkward postures, manual handling and high psychosocial demands. The multifactorial nature of these disorders reflects interactions between individual susceptibility, biomechanical exposures and organisational factors such as task design, rest breaks and safety culture. Effective prevention and management hinge on the integration of ergonomic adjustments, health promotion models and targeted training. An emphasis on both physical rearrangement of workstations and broader organisational change can mitigate risk, improve quality of working life and reduce the societal costs associated with long-term disability.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies among hospital cleaning staff in East Africa have revealed that more than half of participants report work-related musculoskeletal symptoms. Key contributors include lack of occupational safety training, highly repetitive tasks, frequent heavy lifting and elevated levels of work-related stress and dissatisfaction. Multivariable analysis has demonstrated strong associations between these factors and disorder prevalence, underscoring the need for comprehensive interventions. Organisational engagement—through manager-led ergonomic training, job redesign and measures to enhance worker satisfaction—has been highlighted as central to reducing injury rates and improving overall well-being.

Occupational Health and Musculoskeletal Disorders publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in occupational health and musculoskeletal disorders across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Occupational musculoskeletal disorder (MSD): A work-related condition involving pain or impairment in muscles, joints, tendons or nerves.

Ergonomic intervention: The redesign of tools, tasks or work environments to fit worker capabilities and reduce physical strain.

Prevalence: The proportion of a specific population affected by a condition at a defined time.

Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire: A standardised survey tool used to assess the presence and distribution of musculoskeletal symptoms.

References

1. Musculoskeletal disorders and its associated factors among hospital cleaners in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Scientific Reports (2024).
2. Understanding risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders in Iranian housewives: Development of a comprehensive health promotion behavior model. BMC Public Health (2023).
3. Global systematic review of occupational health and safety outcomes among sanitation and hygiene workers. Frontiers in Public Health (2023).
4. The impact of work-related risk factors on the development of neck and upper limb pain among low wage hotel housekeepers in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia: institution-based cross-sectional study. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine (2019).