Musculoskeletal Disorder Symptoms, Treatment & Causes

Musculoskeletal disorders affect the muscles, joints, tendons and surrounding tissue.

They can be very painful and sometimes prevent people from working or carrying out everyday activities.

A 2016 survey by the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA) found that 55% of people with musculoskeletal disorders did not feel they were receiving adequate medical care.

There are many different conditions that can lead to musculoskeletal pain, whether it’s focused on one place or all over your body. Some of the more common problems include:

Back Pain - Often caused by putting your back under strain through activities such as sport or heavy lifting. A slipped disc is one of the possible causes.
Sciatica - Pain in your lower back, buttocks and legs caused by pressure on your sciatic nerve.
Osteoarthritis - Pain and stiffness caused by swollen tendons around your joints. This most commonly occurs in older people.
Osteoporosis - A condition that causes fragile bones, meaning you’re more likely to suffer from fractures or breaks if you fall down.
Tendonitis - Occurs when your tendons (which connect muscles to bones) become swollen.

As your muscles, bones and joints will naturally deteriorate with age, you're at a greater risk of developing a musculoskeletal disorder as you get older. This means that taking good care of your body during your adult life will help to lower the odds of developing any issues later in life.

Regular exercise to strengthen you your muscles, joints and bones is an excellent preventative measure, as is keeping a good posture and avoiding repetitive motions as much as possible.

When it comes to musculoskeletal problems, each person is different. Your treatment will depend entirely on your symptoms and the underlying cause of your pain.

Our friendly, experienced GPs will talk to you about your symptoms and provide all the help you need. You can talk to us from the comfort of your own home - a video appointment on your smartphone, tablet or desktop device is ideal if you don’t live near a clinic and find it hard to get around.

When you’re in pain or discomfort, waiting a long time for prescriptions and referrals can really add to your problems. Our doctors can write you a prescription there and then if needed, while they can also refer you to a specialist if further treatment, such as physiotherapy, is required.

MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS

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Common Musculoskeletal Disorders

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Musculoskeletal treatment online