Muscle Power: How Muscle Health Impacts Injury Prevention and Recovery

Have you ever experienced a broken bone, twisted your ankle, or felt discomfort in your lower back while sitting? You're not alone. It's a widespread issue – an astonishing 1.7 billion people globally face musculoskeletal injuries¹. These injuries involve a range of more than 150 conditions affecting muscles, bones, joints, and the tissues around them². Anyone, whether an athlete or an office worker, can be affected, resulting in pain, limited movement, and reduced function ².

Athletes, who push their bodies to the limit, are particularly prone to such injuries. In fact, a study found that 76% of athletes in different modalities reported sport-related musculoskeletal injuries³. Similarly, work-related injuries, like low back pain, often lead to early exit from the workforce⁴. Although these conditions tend to increase with age, they're also common among children and young people ⁵.

Musculoskeletal injuries aren't just temporary setbacks. They range from fractures and strains to lifelong issues, potentially leading to permanent disability ⁴-⁶. Such injuries affect work, exercise, and social life, increasing the risk of chronic diseases and mental health problems ⁴-⁷.

Taking care of your muscles is more than just about looking good. They enable essential activities like walking, dancing, and even simple daily tasks. Healthy muscles allow you to perform them without limitations while preventing injuries. Weak muscles, on the other hand, increase the risk of joint problems and injury, as they lack proper support8. Muscle health also plays a key role in maintaining balance and preventing falls, especially as we age⁸.

After an injury, recovering muscle strength becomes crucial. Inactivity often weakens muscles, making re-injury more likely ⁹. Impaired muscle function post-injury could even lead to conditions like knee osteoarthritis ⁹. Preventing and treating persistent musculoskeletal injuries early can prevent the onset of chronic diseases⁷.

Rehabilitation programs, focusing on muscle strengthening and improving range of motion, aid recovery10. This investment in muscle health pays off by preventing recurrence and ensuring a successful return to regular activities ¹⁰.

Now that we’ve established the importance of muscle health, you might be wondering how you can ensure that you are on the right track. That’s where muscle monitoring comes in. Just as you pay attention to diet and exercise, monitoring muscle progress helps you measure the effectiveness of your efforts. Tracking muscle health guides your decisions, enhancing rehabilitation and preventing re-injury.

Musculoskeletal injuries affect individuals of all ages, highlighting the need for effective prevention and recovery strategies. With muscle monitoring, we can empower ourselves by tracking our muscle health progress, building stronger muscles, and leading active lives while preventing injuries and supporting recovery.

1. Cieza, A. et al. Global estimates of the need for rehabilitation based on the Global Burden of Disease study 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet 396, 2006–2017 (2020).

2. Briggs, A. M. et al. Musculoskeletal Health Conditions Represent a Global Threat to Healthy Aging: A Report for the 2015 World Health Organization World Report on Ageing and Health. Gerontologist 56, S243–S255 (2016).

3. Goes, R. A. et al. Musculoskeletal injuries in athletes from five modalities: a cross-sectional study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 21, 122 (2020).

4. World Health Organization. Musculoskeletal Health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/musculoskeletal-conditions (2022).

5. Schmidt, K., Schmidt, P. & Tischer, T. Musculoskeletal disorders among children and young people: prevalence, risk factors, preventive measures. https://oshwiki.osha.europa.eu/en/themes/musculoskeletal-disorders-among-children-and-young-people-prevalence-risk-factors-preventive#Prevalence_of_MSDs_among_children_and_young_people (2021).

6. Gallo, J., Raska, M., Kriegova, E. & Goodman, S. B. Inflammation and its resolution and the musculoskeletal system. J Orthop Translat 10, 52–67 (2017).

7. Williams, A. et al. Musculoskeletal conditions may increase the risk of chronic disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. BMC Med 16, 167 (2018).

8. NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Healthy Muscles Matter. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/kids/healthy-muscles#tab-id-2 (2023).

9. Roos, E. M. & Arden, N. K. Strategies for the prevention of knee osteoarthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol 12, 92–101 (2016).

10.NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Sports Injuries: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Steps to Take. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sports-injuries/diagnosis-treatment-and-steps-to-take (2021).