back, neck and muscle pain? Take a rest

About 44 million workers in the EU have musculoskeletal disorders caused by their workplace

Almost 31 million days of work were lost last year due to back, neck and muscle problems, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS's Labour Force Survey, which polls hundreds of thousands of people in the UK, found that musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, which include a large range of bone and joint complaints, accounted for more prolonged absences than any other ailment.

Although the country's workforce has largely swapped heavy manual labour for sitting in offices, MSKs have been the primary cause of absenteeism for the past five years, and the UK has one of the highest rates in Europe.

So why have bone and joint complaints persisted?

"Sitting is the new smoking," explains Prof Steve Bevan, director of the Centre for Workforce Effectiveness at the Work Foundation.

"The more sedentary you are the worse it is for your health."

Most deskbound workers, however, are not adequately addressing their health risks, and waving away the pesky "work station assessment officer". Preventative measures, such as keeping chairs, desks and computers at the right height, are often neglected. "Many office workers make repetitive movements," says Prof Bevan. "Allowing people to move around and take breaks is essential."

Source: BBC News