Musculoskeletal Disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are injuries or disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs. MSDs do not include disorders caused by slips, trips, falls, or motor or similar incidents. Through annual news releases and publications, the BLS defines MSDs to include sprains, strains, tears; back pain, hurt back; soreness, pain, hurt, except back; carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS); hernia; and musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases and disorders when the event or exposure leading to the case is bodily reaction (bending, climbing, crawling, reaching, twisting), overexertion, or repetitive motion.
MSD cases are more severe than the average nonfatal injury or illness case (Figure 2–42). In 2001, they involved a median of 8 days away from work compared with 6 days for all nonfatal injury and illness cases [BLS 2003a]. MSD cases declined from 784,145 cases in 1992 to 522,528 cases in 2001 (Figure 2–35). Three age groups (25–34, 35–44, and 45–54) accounted for 78.9% of cases (Figure 2–39). More male than female workers were affected (Figure 2–40), as were more white, non-Hispanic workers (Figure 2–41). Operators, fabricators, and laborers and persons in technical, sales, and administrative support occupations accounted for 58.1% of the MSD cases (Figure 2–43). The manufacturing and services industry sectors together accounted for about half of all MSD cases (Figure 2–44).
Magnitude and Trend
How did the number of MSD cases compare with all nonfatal injury and illness cases during 1992–2001?
 | Figure 2-35 Number of MSD cases and all nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in private industry, 1992-2001. The number of MSD cases declined from 784,145 in 1992 to 522,528 in 2001. As a percentage of all nonfatal injury and illness cases, MSD cases remained relatively stable between 1992 and 2001, ranging from a low of 33.6% in 1992 to a high of 34.0% in 2001. (Source: BLS [2003c].) |
How were MSDs distributed by nature of injury or illness in 2001?
 | Figure 2-36 Distribution and number of MSD cases involving days away from work in private industry by nature of injury or illness, 2001. Sprains and strains accounted for 399,772 cases or 76.5% of the 522,528 musculoskeletal disorders involving days away from work in 2001. (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Numbers by State
How did the number of MSD cases differ by State in 2001?
 | Figure 2-37 Number of MSD cases involving days away from work in private industry by State, 2001. The number of new MSD cases within reporting States ranged from 1,589 to 52,136 in 2001. The States with the highest numbers of cases included California (52,136), New York (33,773), and Texas (32,838). (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Rates among States
How did the rates of MSD cases differ by State in 2001?
 | Figure 2-38 Rates of MSD cases involving days away from work in private industry by State, 2001. The rate of new MSD cases within reporting States ranged from 35.0 to 141.5 per 10,000 full-time workers in 2001. The States with the highest rates include West Virginia (141.5), Alaska (123.5), and Washington (112.1). BLS reported an overall rate of 57.5 per 10,000 full-time workers for the United States in 2001. (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Age
How did MSD cases compare with all nonfatal injury and illness cases by age of worker in 2001?
 | Figure 2-39 Distribution of MSD cases and all nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in private industry by age, 2001. Age data are available for 518,397 of the 522,528 BLS-estimated MSD cases involving days away from work in 2001. Overall, three age groups (25-34, 35-44, and 45-54) accounted for 78.9% of cases, slightly greater than the 75.2% reported for all nonfatal injury and illness cases. (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Sex
How did MSD cases compare with all nonfatal injury and illness cases by sex of worker in 2001?
 | Figure 2-40 Distribution of MSD cases and all nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in private industry by sex, 2001. Male workers accounted for a lower percentage of MSD cases in 2001 than nonfatal injury and illness cases (62.5% versus 66.1%). However, female workers accounted for a higher percentage of MSD cases (37.5% versus 33.9%). (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Race/Ethnicity
How did MSD cases compare with all nonfatal injury and illness cases by race/ethnicity in 2001?
 | Figure 2-41 Distribution of MSD cases and all nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in private industry by race/ethnicity, 2001. Race/ethnicity data are available for 373,710 of the 522,528 BLS-estimated MSD cases involving days away from work in 2001. White, non-Hispanic workers accounted for 71.6% of MSD cases and 68.2% of all nonfatal injury and illness cases. Black, non-Hispanic workers and Hispanic workers accounted for 12.1% and 13.7% of MSD cases, respectively. (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Severity
How did MSD cases compare with all nonfatal injury and illness cases when measured by days away from work in 2001?
 | Figure 2-42 Distribution of MSD cases and all nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in private industry by days away from work, 2001. Compared with all nonfatal injuries and illnesses in 2001, MSD cases tended to involve higher percentages of long-term work loss (6-10, 11-20, 21-30, and 31 or more days away from work). Thirty-one or more days away from work were reported for 23.9% of MSD cases. A median of 8 days away from work was reported for MSD cases in 2001-slightly greater than the median of 6 days for all nonfatal injuries and illnesses. (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Occupation
How did MSD cases compare with all nonfatal injury and illness cases by occupation in 2001?
 | Figure 2-43 Distribution of MSD cases and all nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in private industry by occupation, 2001. Operators, fabricators, and laborers accounted for 40.8% of all MSD cases involving days away from work in 2001. Comparisons between MSD cases and nonfatal injuries and illnesses by occupational groups indicate only small differences. (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Industry
How did MSD cases compare with all nonfatal injury and illnesses cases by private industry sector in 2001?
 | Figure 2-44 Distribution of MSD cases and all nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in private industry by industry, 2001. Manufacturing (22.9%) and services (25.8%) accounted for about half of all MSD cases in 2001. Distributions of MSD cases are notably different from distributions of all nonfatal injuries and illnesses by industry sector, with the greatest differences in services, construction, manufacturing, and retail trade. (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
