The term Work Related Upper Limb Disorders (WRULDs) covers a range of issues that may be caused or made worse by work. WRULDs include problems with the soft tissues, muscles, tendons and ligaments, along with the circulatory and nerve supply to the limb and include disorders such as:
WRULDs, because they cover such a wide range of health issues, are the most common work related illness in the UK. In Northern Ireland an estimated 18000 people are affected by Musculoskeletal Disorders every year https://www.whlgni.org.uk/facts-and-figures. Pain from WRULD’s not only affects the quality of life for workers but can impact the profitability of an organisation in days lost, reduced productivity and the cost of managing problems when they occur. Symptoms in the upper limbs which may indicate an employee is suffering from a WRULD include:
