Ss44-01 Stay-at-Work With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Conditions – An Introduction

Introduction In most industrialized countries, life expectancy is increasing, and the age of retirement is rising. In response to this, it is important to keep the work force healthy and productive as they age. Materials and Methods This presentation will describe the concept of stay-at-work and how it differs from return-to-work. Results Chronic pain conditions such as musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) significantly contribute to the challenge of work participation, as the risk of chronic pain conditions escalates with age. To enable workers to stay-at-work for as long as they wish or need to, there is a need to implement forward-thinking, pro-active approaches. Conclusions There is an urgent need for better stay-at-work approaches. The importance of preventive practices for keeping workers with chronic pain in the workforce cannot be understated.