What are MSDs?
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect muscles, tendons and nerves: lower back pain, shoulder tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain. According to French Health Insurance, they are the leading cause of recognised occupational disease in France.
In the office, they are driven by long static postures, repetitive movements (mouse, keyboard), a poorly set-up workstation and stress.
Setting up your workstation
- Screen straight in front of you, top of the screen at eye level, about an arm's length away.
- Forearms supported, elbows at a right angle, shoulders relaxed.
- Feet flat on the floor or on a footrest, back against the chair.
- Keyboard and mouse close to the body, wrists in line with the forearms.
Move regularly: the best prevention
The best posture is the next one: changing position often matters more than finding the perfect one. Stand up regularly, take calls standing, walk during short meetings.
- Gentle shoulder and neck rolls.
- Forearm and wrist stretches.
- A few knee bends and a back stretch when you stand up.
The company's role
Preventing MSDs is part of the risk assessment recorded in the DUERP. Beyond adapting workstations, group sessions of strength training, mobility or stretching help teams build good habits.
