MSDs are responsible for millions of lost working days every year.

According to the Work Foundation, businesses should be encouraged to provide more help to employees suffering from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as chronic back pain.

Doing so will not only benefit staff but also businesses, which are likely to see less MSD-related absences across their respective workforces.

Steve Bevan, managing director of the independent authority, said that employers should be doing all they can to ensure people can stay at work despite any health complaints.

He explained that this end should be reached with the aid of GPs and occupational health professionals "even if it means making temporary changes to the job they do or reducing their work time".

"In any case, these adjustments should be time limited and part of an agreed return to work plan - not an open-ended arrangement," Mr Bevan added.

His comments were made after the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance published a charter outlining steps such as flexible working and training for line managers to help deal with MSDs in the workplace.

These conditions were responsible for 10.8 million lost working days in 2008-09.

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