Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD's) are disorders of the muscles, skeleton and related tissues which have been empirically shown or are suspected to have been caused by a workplace activity (particularly a repetitive activity), for this reason the term Repetitive strain injury is sometimes used (often incorrectly) to describe WMSD's, although not all WMSD's need necessarily be caused by repetitive strain of structures of the musculoskeletal system some of them are closely associated with this aetiology, especially the well documented disorder Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD's) differ from Work Related Upper Limb Disorders (WRULD's) in that they can occur anywhere in the musculoskeletal system (e.g. Housemaids Knee). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a WRULD and a WMSD as it occurs in the upper limb, at the wrist, as is tennis elbow which occurs at the lateral epicondyle of the elbow.

The study of WMSD's is a branch of ergonomics.