Pattern of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Nurses at Main Assiut University Hospital

The term work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) is defined according to the World Health Organization (WHO), as a wide range of inflammatory and degenerative diseases and disorders that result in pain and functional impairment. They arise when individuals are exposed to work activities and conditions that significantly contribute to their development or exacerbation, but which may not be their sole cause (1,2). Another definition The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health defined WRMDs as "an injury of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, joints, cartilage, bones, or blood vessels in the arms, legs, head, neck, or back that is caused or aggravated by work tasks such as lifting, pushing, and pulling(3-5). They represent the second largest cause of short-term or temporary work disability after the common cold (6).Apart from lowering the quality of workers' life and reducing the productivity, WRMDs are the most expensive form of work disability, attributing to about 40% of all costs toward the treatment of work-related injuries(7). It is estimated that almost one-third of all cases of sick leave among health care workers are related to musculoskeletal disorders(8).According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2013, WRMDs cases accounted for 33% of all worker injury and illness cases(9). Most WRMSDs develop over time with usually, no single cause but various factors work in combination. According to the European Occupational Safety and Health Agency (EU-OSHA), the most common physical causes and organizational risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) include: * Prolonged sitting or standing in the same position * Performing the same task over and over * Continuing work while injured * Awkward and static postures * Load handling, especially when bending and twisting * Repetitive or forceful movements * Vibration * Insufficient work breaks(7,10-12).