Common musculoskeletal conditions and how to prevent them

Musculoskeletal conditions can become more of a concern as we age. The musculoskeletal (MSK) system is a human body system that makes up our bodies movement, stability, shape and support.

Looking after our musculoskeletal health is essential to prevent conditions that affect our bones, joints and muscles. Approximately 1.7 billion people have musculoskeletal conditions worldwide.

We’re exploring common musculoskeletal conditions and what we can do to reduce our risks of developing these conditions.

What is musculoskeletal health?

Our musculoskeletal health covers the entire function of the musculoskeletal system, which includes our bones, muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments.

Our bones are what give our bodies shape and protect our organs, they also store minerals.

The joints in our body connect our bones which allows us to move and our muscles produce movement and sustain body posture and position.

Our musculoskeletal health refers to the health and well-being of this system, that we probably don’t think about all too often. However, there are ways we can protect our MSK health as we begin to age and our chances of developing these conditions increases.

According to NHS England, over 30 million working days are lost due to MSK conditions every year in the UK and they account for up to 30% of GP consultations in England.

MSK conditions can affect anyone, however, they are more likely to affect women, older people and those with risk factors such as obesity or inactivity.

They can also affect people on an occupational basis, for example, those who work in physical labour roles, healthcare or use repetitive motions, could be at higher risk.

What are the most common MSK conditions?

There are over 150 musculoskeletal conditions that can affect people. Some of the most common are fairly well known and can include the following.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes joints to become painful and stiff. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the UK.

The main symptoms include: pain, stiffness, swelling, tenderness and problems moving the joints. Osteoarthritis is typically thought to be caused by factors such as: joint injury, age, family history and obesity.

Seeing a GP can help you to get a diagnosis for osteoarthritis. It’s considered a long-term condition that cannot be cured, however, a GP will be able to help you manage it.

Back pain

Back pain is very common and whilst it can usually be resolved in a few weeks, it could also be a condition that continues for longer and causes more pain for some people than others.

Common causes of back pain can include a pulled muscle or other medical conditions such as a slipped disc or sciatica.

Back pain isn’t considered a chronic condition and can usually be managed at home with exercise, stretches and pain killers. However, you may need to see a GP for back pain that gets worse or stops you doing your daily activities.

Rheumatoid Arthritis 

Rheumatoid arthritis is considered a long-term condition, that similarly to osteoarthritis, causes painful and stiff joints. This typically affects the hands, feet and wrists.

Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by your immune system attacking the cells that line your joints. Whilst it’s not completely clear why this happens, you are thought to be more at risk if you’re a woman, have a family history of rheumatoid arthritis or you smoke.

You should always see a GP if you have symptoms as it’s important to get treatment before it can get worse. This could be through physiotherapy and occupational therapy or surgery to correct joint problems.

Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis that causes sudden, severe joint pain. The pain is usually found in your big toe, feet, ankles, hands, wrists or elbows.

Gout can’t be treated at home and you’ll need to see a GP as soon as you get any symptoms. Leaving gout unattended can leave lasting damage on your joints. It has the potential to cause long-term complications and kidney problems.

Gout is more common if you:

• Are overweight
• Drink alcohol
• Have been through menopause
• Have high cholesterol or high blood pressure
• Have diabetes

Osteoporosis 

Osteoporosis is a condition which weakens bones. This makes them fragile and easier to break. Whilst bone loss is a normal part of ageing, some people may suffer with losing bone at a faster rate.

Women are more at risk of osteoporosis than men, although it can affect anyone. Some common causes can include: taking high dose steroids for many months, family history, having a low BMI, lack of exercise and regular heavy drinking or smoking.

It’s a chronic condition that can’t be treated but can be managed through medication, healthy lifestyle choices and getting enough calcium and vitamin D.

How can musculoskeletal conditions be prevented?

Whilst MSK conditions vary and can be caused by many different factors, there are things we can do to reduce our risks of developing any related issues. This can also be useful in managing conditions. 

Regular Exercise

Regular physical activity is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. It can also be beneficial for our joints, bones and muscles by:

• Strengthening muscles around our joints and help to protect them from injury
• Helping our joints to stay flexible
• Reducing pain and stiffness in our joints
• Helping to lubricate our joints which supports movement
• Improving balance by strengthening our muscles

Some of the best exercises for our musculoskeletal system include: resistance exercises, weight bearing exercises, strength training and low-impact exercise. Learn more about the importance of strengthening our muscles as we age in our blog.

Maintaining a healthy weight

Another key prevention of MSK conditions is maintaining a healthy weight. Many conditions can be caused by being overweight or having an unhealthy lifestyle.

Obesity is recognised as a key risk factor for osteoarthritis. When your body carries more weight than it’s designed to manage, your joints experience increased stress and pressure. This can lead to inflammation and discomfort. 

Carrying excess weight may also be a factor causing inactivity. To maintain a healthy weight and reduce pressure on our joints, eating a healthy, balanced diet and getting regular exercise can be the first steps in making a change.

Maintaining a healthy posture

Prioritising your posture is such an important factor in reducing your risk of MSK conditions and looking after your bones and joints. Poor posture can place extra pressure on your joints and cause our bones to not be in proper alignment.

This can cause symptoms of pain, decreased mobility and increased risk of long-term conditions affecting our bones and joints. 

Whilst it can be natural to slump down and not always think our of posture, training our minds and bodies to stick to a good posture is something we can thank ourselves for in later life.

Take regular breaks

This can be particularly beneficial in the workplace. If you’re required to sit or stand for long periods, try and take breaks every 20 to 30 minutes to get your bones moving.

This may be difficult, but trying to do this as often as possible helps to relieve pressure on your joints and bones.

Additionally, if you feel pain in your body, don’t ignore it. It may mean you need to change your position to reduce stress or strain.

Try to avoid repetitive activities as much as you possibly can throughout the day and try to switch things up more often.

What support is available?

Whilst we may do our best to prevent these conditions, sometimes they can be inevitable. However, what’s important is knowing you’ve got the support and healthcare available to look after your future health and your musculoskeletal system.

Private health insurance is a great option to get peace of mind that any future conditions, illnesses or injuries that occur are covered.

This means access to private hospital facilities, bypassing long NHS waiting lists and expensive private healthcare bills covered. NHS waiting times for a routine MSK Physiotherapy appointment could be up to 18 weeks.

It's always worth considering what healthcare options are available to you and if you needed an appointment or treatment, how long you'd want to wait.

It's important to note, pre-existing conditions aren’t usually covered with health insurance, so you’d need to have cover before any MSK related conditions became present.

Some private health insurers provide physiotherapy as part of their core cover, meaning you wouldn't need to pay any extra. However, you also may get the option to enhance your therapies cover with optional add-ons.

If you’re new to health insurance, you could benefit from a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our expert advisers. They’ll help you understand everything that is covered in a policy and what policy would best suit you and your needs. 

You can fill out a quote and await a call from our team or get started now and give us a call on 01285 864670 to get started.