Job stress and musculoskeletal diseases

M ajority of musculo-skeletal diseases are degenerative and work related. Work-related musculoskeletal diseases (WRMSD) are one of the main causes of work-related illnesses in Korea. Risk factors of WRMSD are multifactorial and included in individual, ergonomic and psychological factors. The role of job stress as one of the psychological factors in the development of WRMSD is still poorly understood and there is still no consensus on the epidemiological data. However, it seems likely that the body responds to stress factors through four systems (central nervous, autonomic nervous, endocrine and immune) which are constantly interacting as a complex network. Models on occupational stress and WRMSD offer unique perspectives on the role of occupational stressors on WRMSD. So health care providers should recognize stress-WRMSD interactions through careful, directed inquiry. Because a few studies have shown that stress-related interventions have been associated with decreases in musculo-skeletal symptoms.