Research for Fit for Work from The Work Foundation, published today, reveals that two-thirds of people living with MSDs are primary earners in their families, yet they cannot return to work because of a lack for workplace adjustments offered by employers.
The research also found that on top of this, they receive little support from clinicians and healthcare systems.
The report found that MSDs are the leading cause of temporary incapacity in Europe accounting for 50% of all absences of more than three days.
It states that often the condition is not diagnosed early enough (in 40% of cases), leaving many people unable to return to work.
The longer an individual is off work the less likely it is they will return, at a cost of billions of euros to the European economy.
The report authors have called on healthcare professionals, employers and policymakers to ensure that employment outcomes for individuals with MSDs are included as a top priority in treatment and support plans.
Professor Stephen Bevan, Fit for Work Europe founding president and director at The Work Foundation, said: "The support available to individuals with musculoskeletal disorders is often insufficient to keep them in work, and some healthcare practitioners lack the appropriate experience and training to diagnose conditions early enough.
"The majority of those working with a musculoskeletal disorder surveyed cite managing symptoms and maintaining work performance levels as their top concerns in the workplace.
"It is clear we need healthcare professionals, employers and policymakers collaborating to better support people with musculoskeletal disorders who are willing and able to work."
Antoniya Parvanova, MEP and Fit for Work Europe co-founding president, said: "It is clear that the lack of prevention, early intervention and appropriate management of MSDs in clinical and workplace settings undermine the work productivity of millions of Europeans who want to work.
"Moreover, suboptimal standards of care for MSDs increase the risk of worsening the health of these individuals and has a large impact on households and society.
"Swift action is required to develop and implement policy decisions at the national level that take into consideration the benefits to society of greater prevention and early interventions across health care and welfare systems."
