title: The management of musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace.
abstract: Musculoskeletal disorders are a major cause of suffering and disability among working-age adults. Although working in ergonomically unsound jobs may lead to the development of certain musculoskeletal disorders, it is increasingly recognised that well-designed work is generally good for health and individuals with musculoskeletal disorders generally benefit from working. This chapter explores how health-care professionals should assess patients' fitness for work, what factors should be considered and how the results should be communicated and to whom. Of necessity, this chapter describes current United Kingdom (UK) schemes and systems. Nevertheless, the principles described can be extended to most countries but the reader is advised to familiarise themselves with the detail of the equivalent national services in their own practice. The new UK Fit for Work service is explained together with advice on how best to use a fit note to optimise patients' short- and long-term health. We detail what benefits are available to those who are unable to work because of poor health and how health professionals can achieve an optimum balance between supporting those who are genuinely unfit to work through benefits from a welfare state and encouraging and facilitating those who can earn an independent living to do so.
authors.affiliation: Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Occupational Health Service, Education Centre, St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, UK. Electronic address: ira.madan@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Madan
authors.affiliation: Cambridge Health at Work, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Box 172, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK. Electronic address: paul.grime@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Paul Robert
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Grime
mesh_terms: D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D006113:United Kingdom; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Adjustments; Benefits; Disability; Fitness; Musculoskeletal disorders; Occupation; Vocational rehabilitation; Work