Also known as musculoskeletal disorders, musculoskeletal injuries are soft tissue injuries caused by unbalanced positions or a sudden impact, force, or vibration. They can influence the nerves, muscles, blood vessels, ligaments, and joints.
What Are The Common Types of Musculo Skeletal Injuries?
The common musculoskeletal injuries that people suffer from include:
- Tendinitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Muscle / Tendon strain
- Bone fractures
- Ligament Sprain
- Herniated Discs
- Thoracic Outlet Compression
- Tension Neck Syndrome
- Radial Tunnel Syndrome
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Trigger Finger and many more
What Are The Common Symptoms of Musculoskeletal Injuries?
People with musculoskeletal disorders may sometimes feel acute pain, muscle twitching, and burning sensations in their entire bodies. Swelling, tingling, and numbness may be part of these injuries. The symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders differ from person to person, but several symptoms are common to all, such as:
- Pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, hands, back, legs or feet
- May include numbness, tingling, swelling and a feeling of tiredness or heaviness in the affected area
- Some people may experience many symptoms due to more than one injury
What Causes Musculoskeletal Injuries?
Most people suffer from musculoskeletal injuries due to their lifestyle and age. A few lifestyle-related causes include;
- Postural strain
- Prolonged uses of computer
- Repetitive movements
- Trauma
- Exerting too much force
- Uncomfortable working position
- Vibrations
- Working too long without breaks
- Playing sports such as tennis with the wrong technique
How Is Musculoskeletal injury Treated?
Conservative therapy for stress injuries generally involves resting the affected area until the patient is pain-free, often requiring up to 4–6 weeks. The athlete should be pain-free for at least two weeks before restarting his routine workout regimen. Other traditional management options include;
- NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin
- Cryotherapy
- Stretching
- Flexibility exercises
Several stress fractures require aggressive or alternative management approach. For example, a fracture of the femoral neck, if displaced, require surgical intervention, and if non-displaced need bed rest for one week followed by a gradual return to weight bearing. Internal fixation is necessary if a tension-type femoral fracture is diagnosed.