NIOSH published a guide for home health care workers on how to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. The agency says a work-related musculoskeletal disorder is an injury of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, joints, cartilage, bones, or blood vessels in the arms, legs, head, neck, or back that is caused or aggravated by work tasks such as lifting, pushing, and pulling; symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling, numbness, and tingling. Lifting and moving clients create a high risk for back injury and other musculoskeletal disorders for home health care workers, NIOSH says.
