Diseases of the musculoskeletal system: more than every second French person suffers from them

A survey conducted by Santé Publique France assesses the extent of musculoskeletal disorders in the population.

More than one in two French people will suffer.

These disorders are the main cause of occupational diseases.

With the help of the “health barometer”, the results of which have just been made public, French Public Health is better able to measure the extent of musculoskeletal diseases (MSD) in our country. The numbers are significant: About 58% of women and 51% of men aged 18 to 64 years report pain associated with MSD of the back or upper extremity. For the health agency, this confirms – in addition to other data – “significant weight is represented by TMS“.

Musculoskeletal diseases include various diseases of the musculoskeletal system (muscles, tendons, nerves, joints). They are characterized by pain and discomfort, usually daily. Physician-diagnosed MSDs are often caused or aggravated by work.

Public health issue

These MSDs are the leading cause of occupational diseases in France. In practice, they cover 88% of pathologies compensated by compulsory medical insurance. The most commonly reported disorders are low back pain, excluding back sciatica, and MSD of the shoulder in the upper extremity.

Santé Publique France noted that surgery was effective for two very common conditions, namely carpal tunnel syndrome and low back pain. “relatively stable” by number since 2018 (124,011 and 20,971 respectively in 2022). However, from 2018 to 2022, the incidence of lumbar disc herniations decreased. Finally, carpal tunnel syndrome is decreasing among women but increasing slightly among men.

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The study by Santé Publique France offers other lessons. This confirms, for example, that MSDs reflect a range of socio-occupational inequalities within a population. Indeed, the incidence of MSD of the back and upper extremities is higher among farmers and workers (for both sexes), as well as among artisans, traders and business managers (for men) or among office workers (for women). The results also show that this frequency is lower among managers and representatives of more intellectual professions.

Better knowledge of MSDs and the populations affected by them should allow authorities to tailor prevention campaigns. Certain industries are at greater risk, be it manufacturing or construction for men, or human health and social activities for women. Therefore, French Public Health recommends “priority goal” workers working in these professional fields. The health agency’s recommendations are numerous: adapting positions, organizing work or even limiting psychosocial risks. At the same time, it is advisable to work on reducing your sedentary lifestyle.