Muscle and joint issues are plaguing thousands

ALMOST a quarter of adults living in Barnsley are living with muscle or joint problems, new figures have revealed.

The statistics have come amid warnings about the impact these conditions can have on people’s wellbeing, as well as employment prospects.

Musculoskeletal health conditions include common ailments like back or neck pain, and issues that impact the joints, such as arthritis.

New figures from NHS England suggest 23.9 per cent of people aged 16 and over in Barnsley had a musculoskeletal condition as of 2023.

This was above the England average of 18.4 per cent.

In addition, 18.8 per cent of adults in Barnsley reported having two or more conditions, with one of them being a problem with their joints, bones or muscles.

The figures further show 1,719 people in Barnsley had rheumatoid arthritis in Barnsley in the year to March, a condition which causes swelling and stiffness in the joints.

Last Wednesday Labour MP Margaret Greenwood, former shadow work and pensions secretary, told Parliament musculoskeletal problems inflict a ‘terrible human cost’, and add to government spending on social services and the NHS.

She urged the government to adopt a cross-departmental strategy to tackle the issue.

“Musculoskeletal conditions can be devastating for those affected,” she said.

“They can cause pain, reduce mobility, diminish self-confidence and lead to isolation.

“They can also lead to extended periods of absence from work and, in some cases, people giving up work altogether.

“Those who are in work need the right support so that they can remain in work, and those who are looking for work need to know of the support that is available to help them get back into employment.

“Modern design and technology can improve working conditions for people with some MSK conditions, yet people can often feel awkward asking for such adjustments.”

Data from the Health and Safety Executive shows musculoskeletal disorders were responsible for 6.6 million lost working days across Great Britain, out of 35.2 million days lost to ill-health overall.

They were the second highest cause of lost days, after ‘stress, depression or anxiety’.

The body also warns workers in agriculture, construction, health and social care, and transport and logistics are most likely to suffer from one of these disorders.

Research by the Health Foundation think tank has found musculoskeletal issues are the main health problem keeping older workers out of employment.

A government spokesperson said: “We are committed to providing the support people with musculoskeletal and other major health conditions need to find a job that best suits them.

“With inactivity down by over 300,000 since the pandemic peak, our Back to Work Plan will help up to a further 1.1 million disabled people, people with long-term health conditions or the long-term unemployed to look for and stay in work.”