Musculoskeletal Disorders

The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two programs that provide disability benefits: the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. SSDI provides disability benefits to people (under the full retirement age) who are no longer able to work because of a disabling medical condition. SSI provides income assistance for disabled, blind, and aged people who have limited income and resources regardless of their prior participation in the labor force. Both programs share a common disability determination process administered by SSA and state agencies as well as a common definition of disability for adults: "the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months." Disabled workers might receive either SSDI benefits or SSI payments, or both, depending on their recent work history and current income and assets. Disabled workers might also receive benefits from other public programs such as workers' compensation, which insures against work-related illness or injuries occurring on the job, but those other programs have their own definitions and eligibility criteria. Selected Health Conditions and Likelihood of Improvement with Treatment identifies and defines the professionally accepted, standard measurements of outcomes improvement for medical conditions. This report also identifies specific, long-lasting medical conditions for adults in the categories of mental health disorders, cancers, and musculoskeletal disorders. Specifically, these conditions are disabling for a length of time, but typically don't result in permanently disabling limitations; are responsive to treatment; and after a specific length of time of treatment, improve to the point at which the conditions are no longer disabling.

Every year workers' low-back, hand, and arm problems lead to time away from jobs and reduce the nation's economic productivity. The connection of these problems to workplace activities-from carrying boxes to lifting patients to pounding computer keyboards-is the subject of major disagreements among workers, employers, advocacy groups, and researchers. Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace examines the scientific basis for connecting musculoskeletal disorders with the workplace, considering people, job tasks, and work environments. A multidisciplinary panel draws conclusions about the likelihood of causal links and the effectiveness of various intervention strategies. The panel also offers recommendations for what actions can be considered on the basis of current information and for closing information gaps. This book presents the latest information on the prevalence, incidence, and costs of musculoskeletal disorders and identifies factors that influence injury reporting. It reviews the broad scope of evidence: epidemiological studies of physical and psychosocial variables, basic biology, biomechanics, and physical and behavioral responses to stress. Given the magnitude of the problem-approximately 1 million people miss some work each year-and the current trends in workplace practices, this volume will be a must for advocates for workplace health, policy makers, employers, employees, medical professionals, engineers, lawyers, and labor officials.

Estimated costs associated with lost days and compensation claims related to musculoskeletal disorders-including back pains and repetitive motion injuries-range from $13 billion to $20 billion annually. This is a serious national problem that has spurred considerable debate about the causal links between such disorders and risk factors in the workplace. This book presents a preliminary assessment of what is known about the relationship between musculoskeletal disorders and what may cause them. It includes papers and a workshop summary of findings from orthopedic surgery, public health, occupational medicine, epidemiology, risk analysis, ergonomics, and human factors. Topics covered include the biological responses of tissues to stress, the biomechanics of work stressors, the epidemiology of physical work factors, and the contributions of individual, recreational, and social factors to such disorders. The book also considers the relative success of various workplace interventions for prevention and rehabilitation.

This open access book focuses on imaging of the musculoskeletal diseases. Over the last few years, there have been considerable advances in this area, driven by clinical as well as technological developments. The authors are all internationally renowned experts in their field. They are also excellent teachers, and provide didactically outstanding chapters. The book is disease-oriented and covers all relevant imaging modalities, with particular emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging. Important aspects of pediatric imaging are also included. IDKD books are completely re-written every four years. As a result, they offer a comprehensive review of the state of the art in imaging. The book is clearly structured with learning objectives, abstracts, subheadings, tables and take-home points, supported by design elements to help readers easily navigate through the text. As an IDKD book, it is particularly valuable for general radiologists, radiology residents, and interventional radiologists who want to update their diagnostic knowledge, and for clinicians interested in imaging as it relates to their specialty.

Work related muskuloskeletal disorders, or WMSDs, have become a major problem in many industrialised countries. It was previously thought that the number of repetitive jobs would decline in the future, leading to a decline in the number of WMSDs: however, this has not been the case. Some government agencies expect WMSDs to be one of the major work-related disorders into the new Millenium. This book contains evaluated scientific information that will help prevent WMSDs, derived from original research and field experience via a Canadian Government sponsored project on work related musculoskeletal disorders. The expert group's goal was twofold: the first objective was to examine the work relatedness of WMSDs in the light of existing literature, and the second was to explore and synthesize information, avenues and approaches that could help in the prevention of WMSDS.

A combination of Oriental medicine, traditional biomedical orthopaedics, Western osteopathic therapy, and an updated Cyriax style of Orthopaedic medicine, the book presents precise methodology for the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

This book provides an introduction to the basic sciences pertaining to the musculoskeletal tissues as well as to the clinical practice, i.e., diagnosis and treatment of the wide variety of disorders and injuries from which these tissues may suffer. Its scope includes the "surgical" subjects of orthopaedics and fractures as well as the "medical" subjects of rheumatology, metabolic bone disease and rehabilitation. Compatibility: BlackBerry® OS 4.1 or Higher / iPhone/iPod Touch 2.0 or Higher /Palm OS 3.5 or higher / Palm Pre Classic / Symbian S60, 3rd edition (Nokia) / Windows Mobile™ Pocket PC (all versions) / Windows Mobile Smartphone / Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP/Vista/Tablet PC

This standard-setting book is known for its practical approach to the assessment, management, and counseling of patients with regional musculoskeletal disorders resulting in occupational incapacity. The approach is supported by a display of the relevant science and the author’s philosophy in approaching uncertainties and discrepancies. The Third Edition offers discussions of the current approach to the diagnosis and management of fibromyalgia and its sister functional somatic syndromes. Recent scientific studies explore the treatment of regional musculoskeletal disorders when such a sufferer feels compelled to seek care from a physician, surgeon or "alternative" provider. Dr. Hadler has pioneered an understanding of the interfaces between statutory recourse for disabling regional musculoskeletal disorders and the patient and physician. Witty and persuasive, Hadler’s text is grounded in sound, scientific principles and has been recommended by ACOEM, JAMA, JBJS, and others.