Functional Health is an innovative strategy specifically designed to reduce the occurrence of work related muscular-skeletal disorders (MSDs). MSDs include injuries to the back, neck, shoulder, knee, wrist, and hand; involving such diagnosis as carpal tunnel syndrome, herniated disk, tendonitis, sprains, and strains

Many MSD’s that present are not due to traumatic causes, but rather cumulative causes that are a combination of events at work and at home.  They typically begin as a discomfort, until they reach a point of tolerance that is too great to handle.  Or a history of smaller events leads to a greater event that could have happened at home or work.  A proactive approach to “at risk” cases help avoid reportable “medical cases” could bring about early intervention and reduction in costs.  Functional and cumulative problems are dealt with by using functional solutions.  Work comfort and performance are impacted by four factors. 

1. Work requirements and workplace design – The domain of engineering

2. Worker capacity and resiliency – The domain of Bio-ergonomics and Functional Health

3. Work and worker interface - The domain of ergonomics