Articles

eLearning: Musculoskeletal troubles

Dr Mary Wyatt

Understanding the difficulties everyone faces with musculoskeletal problems can help you help workers

Musculoskeletal problems, or conditions that affect the muscles and ligaments and adjacent structures, can be frustrating to deal with. They are common problems that sometimes get better quickly and sometimes hang around for decades.

In this e-learning module we explore:

  • The nature and extent of musculoskeletal problems
  • The difficulties people with musculoskeletal problems face, in trying to get effective treatment and understand their problem
  • What you can do to assist those with musculoskeletal afflictions with their return to work

There's a short quiz at the end of each video to complete.  Enter your name and email at the prompt.  When our system is fully functioning we will send out a certificate of completion after quiz completion.  

We look forward to hearing what you think about our pilot elearning module via this short survey - https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GC29PP3 

 

Musculoskeletal problems - some background information. 

They're common, particularly in the spine and certain joints. 

The majority of us have one or two musculosketal problems for most of our lives. 

They can come on if we do too much, and if we do too little.  

 

Medicine can achieve amazing results for some health problems.  

Sadly, this is not the case for most musculoskeletal conditions.

Investigations can be confusing and diagnoses can sound worrying.

Teaching the person how to manage their condition - the cornerstone of management for most long term problems - is not yet standard practice.  

Medicine helps some people with musculoskeletal problems stay at or return to their job. 

Those at the workplace, and others involved with return to work support, often have a greater influence on return to work. 

There's a lot you can do to help people with musculoskeletal problems, even if you don't own a stethoscope :).