Musculoskeletal disorders—the formal name for muscle, bone, and joint issues—are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and can have a huge impact on your quality of life. These disorders limit your normal physical activity due to injury, pain, or disease of the bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons.
If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort, be sure to take the symptoms seriously, and seek medical care as soon as possible.
Your personal muscle, bone, and joint health checklist
There are plenty of actions you can take to bolster your muscle, bone, and joint health to prevent future pain and injury. You can get started right now.
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Preventing musculoskeletal pain and injury
As with many other health concerns, focusing on prevention is worth the effort.
Here’s how your Adobe benefits can be a big part of your musculoskeletal health game plan.
Check your workspace
Get moving
Fuel your body
Reduce stress
Schedule your annual physical with your primary care physician
Complete a health assessment
If you’re experiencing symptoms
If you’re feeling some pain or discomfort, don’t ignore it! Timely intervention can keep a small problem from becoming a bigger issue.
I need to build some healthy habits
Your Adobe benefits can help make a change for the better.
- Use LifeDojo to build healthy habits with the help of a coach.
- Adobe’s registered dietitian can help you improve your diet, and the Slack nutrition community can keep you on track.
- Your onsite wellness center, offers equipment to support healthy movement—or use your wellness reimbursement for gym memberships, fitness classes, or equipment.
I feel discomfort when sitting at my desk
Check the ergonomics of your workspace.
Take a look at this quick posture guide [PDF] to see if you’re properly positioned.
For a more comprehensive look at your space, start with a self-paced virtual ergonomic assessment, powered by ergoIQ.
I suffer from chronic pain
Talk to your doctor, and explore your care options.
- Find an Aetna network provider, or check out the AbleTo program.
- Find a Kaiser provider, or read Kaiser’s resources on chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions.
- Get a no-cost second opinion on your pain management plan from Teladoc Medical Experts.
I have lower back pain
Acting early can help avoid more serious problems later.
First, pay attention to your symptoms and what might cause the pain—like sitting at your desk for a long time.
- See Aetna tips on how to relieve lower back pain.
- Learn about Kaiser treatment options.
- Talk to your primary care physician about whether you should see a specialist.
Stress is contributing to my pain
Feeling calmer and more relaxed can help relieve physical discomfort.
- Access mental health support and confidential counseling through Spring Health.
- Your free Headspace membership can help with mindfulness and meditation techniques, including a pain management course and pain-at-night meditation.
- Aetna and Kaiser members can get support from a therapist.
I injured myself
Get the care you need without delay.
If you need care right away, and your injury is not life-threatening, an in-network urgent care facility is probably your best bet for quick, appropriate care.
Not sure whether to go to the emergency room? Check Aetna’s guide to urgent care versus the ER.
If you’re a Kaiser member, call the number on the back of your ID card for advice.
I got hurt at work
Report what happened, whether you have sudden back pain after lifting something heavy, or a sore knee after slipping and falling.
First, get the care you need. If you’re in the office, call Adobe Security for assistance at 408-536-4444 (ext. 6-4444), or dial 9-911.
Then, contact the Employee Resource Center (ERC) at 408-536-4357, or submit a case via the Support Center to report your injury. The ERC can help determine if you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Learn about workers’ comp and leaves of absence.
I’m considering surgery
Explore your options to make the best choice for you.
If you’re considering elective surgery, get a no-cost second opinion on your treatment options from Teladoc Medical Experts for peace of mind.
Don’t delay
Studies show that the longer you delay getting treatment for a musculoskeletal issue, the longer it takes to recover, the more expensive the required treatment, and the greater the chances of a recurring problem.
Recovering from an injury
Recovering from an injury can be a long process, but taking the proper steps to fully recover is worth the time. As you work with your doctors and follow their advice, you can reduce your chance of pain or reinjury in the future.
Consider using these resources as additional support in your recovery journey.
Stay accountable with LifeDojo
LifeDojo coaches can help you stick to your physiotherapy program or other medical recommendations with regular check-ins and realistic goal setting.
Find mindfulness with Headspace
Through your free Headspace membership, you can practice mindfulness to support your mental and physical recovery. These resources might be particularly helpful (and there are a lot more to explore):
- Sports recovery course
- Managing anxiety course
- Navigating change course
- Pain management course
- Pain at night meditation
Consider emotional support with Spring Health
Caring for your mental wellbeing is an important part of physical recovery. Through Spring Health, you can access 10 free confidential counseling sessions to support your mental health needs. You also have access to resources to help you along the way.