Back pain, shoulder pain… musculoskeletal disorders affect 1 in 2 French people

Mal de dos, douleur à l’épaule… : les troubles musculo-squelettiques touchent 1 Français sur 2

They constitute the first group of occupational diseases. Musculoskeletal disorders, particularly those affecting the back and upper limb, affect more than half of adults according to a survey unveiled Thursday by Santé Publique France.

In France, 58% of women and 51% of men, aged 18 to 64, suffer from pain in the back or upper limbs (shoulder, arm, forearm, hand). Among workers of the same age, the figures are very slightly higher: 60% for women and 54% for men.

In detail, 47% of women and 40% of men (respectively 48% and 42% among employed people) have a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) in the back. Lower, the prevalence of MSDs in the upper limb affects 30% of women and 27% of men (31% and 28% of working people).

88% of occupational diseases

These figures, from a study released Thursday March 28 by Public Health France, show the extent of the phenomenon. Thus, MSDs constitute the leading cause of work-related morbidity and the leading cause of compensated occupational illnesses. They alone represent 88% of occupational illnesses recognized by the general regime.

MSDs, from simple discomfort to sometimes intense pain, concern all conditions affecting the joints, muscles and tendons and "result from’ an imbalance between the physical capacities of the body and the demands and constraints to which it is exposed, notes Ameli.fr, the Health Insurance website.

Low back pain, first reported MSD

Concerning MSDs of the back, which 48% of active women and 42% men experience, low back pain is the first illness reported. Then comes the sciatic pain. For MSDs of the upper limb (31% of women and 28% of active men), they primarily concern the shoulder, then the elbow and the carpal tunnel – carpal tunnel syndrome designating disorders linked to compression of the median nerve at the wrist.

If multiple causes come into play in the occurrence of MSDs, professional activity plays a major role in their appearance, maintenance or aggravation, specifies Ameli.fr.

Inequalities according to socio-professional category

The sectors of activity most at risk of developing MSDs are the manufacturing industry and construction for men, and health and social action for women. MSDs are higher among farmers and workers for both sexes, among artisan traders and business leaders among men, and among employees among women. MSDs are lower among executives and higher intellectual professions.

Santé publique France recommends, "in the professional environment, prevention interventions integrating professional and personal risk factors must be carried out such as the adaptation of workstations, the arrangement of work organization or even by limiting psychosocial risks".

The health agency also calls for limiting sedentary lifestyles as much as possible. During working hours, get up from your chair regularly, take a few steps, do some stretches. If you work standing, try to get out of your posture regularly.

*telephone survey included 18,298 people aged 18 to 64 and 13,093 employed people aged 18 to 64, who were asked about self-reported MSD distress during of the last twelve months.