Building better musculoskeletal health

Safety June 2023

Published on 20 Jun 2023

Seafarers work long hours in challenging environments and hence, are more likely to be injured than those in other jobs. Injuries, whether to the back, knee, neck, or shoulder, are a common workplace reality that many seafarers face. A physiotherapy treatment plan to tackle common injuries gives seafarers the tools they need to take control of their health and careers. Preventing musculoskeletal injuries can be a game changer for seafarers.

Musculoskeletal injuries can affect bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves or tendons. Some injuries self-resolve within a relatively short period, but sometimes pain can persist and become chronic. Chronic pain and limited mobility can lead to longer periods of absence, impacting work, homelife and mental wellbeing.

Preventative exercises for strengthening commonly injured muscles are a good tool for self-treatment while at sea with limited access to medical treatment.

Musculoskeletal injuries develop gradually due to moving poorly, moving in a very repetitive manner, or not moving enough. These injuries are generally not noticeable until they start affecting your work, sleep or even your ability to move freely.

Persons in jobs that are physically demanding or even sedentary in nature can experience musculoskeletal injuries.

Preventative exercises can help reduce the likelihood of one needing to go on leave due to an injury. Reducing exposure to an injury also means that one is in better condition and less likely to miss work opportunities.

Recovery from these injuries can cause stress, affect finances, and affect mental health. Hence, exercising to prevent such injuries is very important. Physiotherapy under professional guidance can be used to treat such injuries.

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