Tied up in Knots New Report Exposes the Truth Behind Britain’S Musculoskeletal Health
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All tied up in knots New report exposes the truth behind Britain’s musculoskeletal health 2 Contents Page Foreword: What works for an age old problem? 2 Section 1: Fairer sex face an unfair burden 4 Section 2: Time takes a toll 6 Section 3: Body of evidence 8 Section 4: As stiff as a board 10 Section 5: Simply the best approach 13 About Simplyhealth 16 Did you know: Stats and facts from ShARP 18 Foreword: What works for an age old problem? Every year in the UK 20% of the population present with A poll of 1,000 people who suffer aches and pains a new onset or recurrence of a musculoskeletal problem.1 commissioned by the Simplyhealth Advisory Research Panel In fact, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most (ShARP), found that more than a third (35%) take to their common work related problem in Europe2, the most beds in the hope it will ease their pain. Exercise, such as common cause of physical disability3 and the biggest reason yoga7 and workouts guided by a physiotherapist,8 is proven to for long term treatment.4 Musculoskeletal disorders can improve spinal aches and pains, but only 6% of sufferers use affect the body’s muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves and it to relieve their symptoms and almost half (42%) say pain joints, and most commonly result in back pain, knee pain, prevents them from exercising as much as they would like. neck and shoulder pain, hip and limb pain. Team GB kayaker, sports scientist and physiotherapist, Paul A recent study5 into how we manage our musculoskeletal Hobrough from ShARP notes: “There is a real danger that health reveals that two out of five Britons believe that by people can become trapped in a vicious cycle with lack of resting, their musculoskeletal condition will improve, what exercise leading to increased stiffness, pain and muscle they don’t realise is that it could in fact be making it worse. wastage and therefore less support for the spine and an Studies have shown that rest intensifies and prolongs back increased risk of problems. pain, reduces mobility and extends recovery time.6 2 1 Clarke A & Symmons D. The burden of rheumatic disease. Medicine 2006; 34 (9): 333-335 2 European Agency for Safety and Health at Work 3 Woolf AD, Pfleger B. Burden of major musculoskeletal conditions. Bull World Health Organ 2003;81:646-56. 4 European Opinion Research Group EEIG. Health, Food and Alcohol and Safety. Special Eurobarometer 186. European Commission, 2003 5 One Poll survey of 1,000 people carried out in June 2013 “On top of that, reduced activity increases the likelihood of Pain hot spots weight gain which places even more stress on our joints. The ShARP study identified the lower back as the nation’s The evidence is clear; those suffering from chronic low number one sore spot, with seven out of ten (70%) back pain benefit from exercise and often get worse with respondents reporting problems in this region. prolonged periods of inactivity.” But worryingly, three out of four sufferers do not ask for Being overweight is a key contributor to a lot of muscle and professional advice on musculoskeletal problems, with more joint pain, affecting many of the weight-bearing joints. One than a third (36%) of those who do not seek help saying long term study found that obesity increases the risk of the cost of care puts them off. Another major barrier is the 9 osteoarthritis of the knee by a factor of four. mistaken belief that a doctor’s referral is needed to see a Given the global epidemic of obesity it is perhaps not physiotherapist.11 surprising that the incidence of arthritis of the knee climbed The following report, brought to you by ShARP, explores 10 by 22% from 1990 to 2005 and continues to rise. the area of back pain and general muscle, bone and joint A weighty link problems. It looks at who suffers and why; the impact of our body shape, weight and height and how age too, as well The new study by ShARP has also revealed a link between as suffering in silence, can make our musculoskeletal health weight and back pain, with almost all (99.5%) of those worse. The report also suggests how we can treat muscle, weighing 14 stone or more reporting problems. bone and joint problems quickly and conveniently. 3 6 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7823996 7 http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/11November/Pages/yoga-improves-back-pain-says-research.aspx 8 http://www.bmj.com/content/319/7205/279 9 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3291123/ and http://bjp.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/04/08/2049463713484296.full 10 http://lowerextremityreview.com/article/knee-oa-in-obese-patients-a-cyclical-clinical-challenge 11 In some areas of the UK you need to see a GP for referral but if you go privately no referral is needed Section 1: Fairer sex face an unfair burden Women experience more acute back pain than men, 25% Painkillers are preferred by women, with: compared to 20%, and are more prone to knee problems, ✔ over half (57%) taking them to relieve back pain, with one in three (33%) reporting pain in these joints compared to fewer than half (43%) of men — which compared to one in five men (22%). is just as well as there is evidence that long term use Women tend to turn to physical treatments such as of prescription painkillers increases the risk of erectile physiotherapy, chiropractic and massage, with more than dysfunction.12 half (54%) of those questioned for the Simplyhealth Advisory Research Panel survey reporting they use one of these Peak pain times approaches to relieve back pain, compared to just over a Pain and stiffness peak at the start and at the end of the third (39%) of men. day for both sexes, but the pattern is more pronounced in women: However, women are also most likely to risk exacerbating their back pain problems by resting, 38% take to their beds ✔ 18% of women reported problems in the morning, compared to 30% of males. compared to 12% of men ✔ Men are three times more likely to do nothing to help their 16% of respondents said they suffer more in the evening, back pain and simply hope their pain goes away, 12% put compared to 10% of men. their heads in the sand and suffer compared to just 4% of Both sexes try to soldier on and manage chores around the the women surveyed. house and garden on their own, but men are the most likely to employ someone to help out — 16% compared to 10%. 4 12 http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-05/kp-luo051013.php Sadness and moods Depression associated with joint pain is an issue for both men and women, with 28% of women and 23% of men saying aches affect their mood, although women are most at risk of feeling a sense of frustration: ✔ almost a third (27%) of women reported their musculoskeletal problems leave them feeling helpless, compared to 17% of men ✔ two out of five (40%) women complained they feel old before their time, compared to one in four (25%) men. 5 Section 2: Time takes a toll Back pain becomes more common as we age, with the Asking for help ShARP study revealing that 99% of over 50s with joint Over 55s are most willing to ask their GP for help, with a problems reporting they get it in the back. Pain and stiffness third (33%) visiting their doctor for advice, compared to a doubles with age, with more than one in three (36%) of quarter of those under the age of 40. those aged over 55 reporting daily discomfort compared to just 15% of those aged 25 to 30. The benefits of physiotherapy are most often recognised by under 40s, with almost one in five (19%) turning to a Neck and shoulder problems peak earlier. Two out of five physiotherapist for treatment, compared to 15% of over 40s. under 35 year olds suffer neck pain and almost a third (30%) report shoulder problems, while for the over 55s the Painkillers are most commonly used by over 50s, with figures were just 17% and 30%. The increased time younger two out of three (63%) resorting to them for back pain respondents spend staring at screens is probably a factor — despite the known risks of long term use of non steroidal 13 behind neck and shoulder pain. anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin. The growth in technology and working hours has had a big Oral NSAIDs are associated with a slightly elevated risk impact on the younger generation. Around half of under of heart attack or stroke and they are not recommended 30s sit at a computer for more than six hours a day (51%), for anyone with a history of cardiac problems, high blood play games on a console or mobile device (50%) or watch pressure or diabetes — which are all more common in this two hours of more television a day (47%), compared to an age group. average across all ages of 40%, 30% and 40% respectively. 6 13 http://bestpractice.bmj.com/best-practice/monograph/337.html Dr Gill Jenkins, GP and expert from ShARP, notes: “Over- the-counter painkillers can be very useful, particularly for acute episodes, but it is not wise to take them for long periods without consulting your GP, particularly if you have any underlying problems. “Hypertension increases with age, as does the incidence of diabetes and heart disease and it is important that people with persistent aches and pains discuss their options with a GP, physiotherapist or other health professional.” Curiously, the survey revealed that among those with back pain the youngest and oldest age groups are the least likely to employ someone to help in the home or garden, with just one in ten (10%) of under 30s and a similar number of over 55s (11%) taking someone on to help with household chores compared to almost a quarter (23%) of those aged 31 to 35.