ABSTRACT
A biopsychosocial approach to treating an MSD addresses the biomechanical factors, psychosocial aspects and individual characteristics that impact the development of an MSD. It encompasses the worker in the contexts of industrial, medical, social, and legal systems (Sanders 2004). Although more acute conditions may involve fewer systems, as MSDs become chronic, more and more issues affect the outcome of treatment and the interplay between medical and other social systems becomes more complex (Barthel et al. 1998). Job and/or family stresses interact with workplace and economic stressors to impact attitude, coping mechanisms, and successful adaptation to work following an injury. This approach varies from a problem-focused medical approach that traditionally treats the illness as a distinct entity.
