100 million Europeans – including 40 million in the workforce – are affected by musculoskeletal problems, according to a new study.

The study carried out by the Work Foundation indicates that 9.5 million working days are lost each year due to muscle and joint disorders and 60% of people are incapacitated by the problem.

Stephen Bevan, managing director of the Work Foundation who produced the ‘Fit for Work’ report said: ‘As Europe now struggles to emerge from the global recession, one consideration policymakers should address is how labour productivity in businesses is being undermined by these often very painful conditions,’ he insisted.

Brendan Barber, the general secretary of the Trade Union Congress, has called for better access to early rehabilitation for those suffering with muscle and joint pain.

‘Many of these illnesses are caused or made worse by work,’ he said.

‘The huge number of cases shows that the current European regulations on manual handling and working on computers are failing to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders.’

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