$980.1 billion per year. That is the latest estimated annual cost to society of musculoskeletal (MS) disease. The figure represents 5.76 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product — up from 3.44 percent of the GDP two decades ago.

The shoulder injury is now America’s #1 injury in terms of frequency and cost per claim. That comment, by the director of Workers’ Compensation, Corporate Insurance & Risk Management for American Airlines, comes despite the fact that many of these injuries are easily preventable. It should serve as a wakeup call for employers to do everything they can to prevent and lessen the impact of these injuries.

Watching the Winter Olympics can be a great inspiration to get into an exercise regimen, especially if you’ve been fairly sedentary since the holidays started. But before you head to the ice to try a triple axel or a quad lutz it’s important to make sure your body is ready; otherwise, you may find yourself sore at the very least, and possibly with severe injuries.

Lumbar fusion surgery should not be the first line treatment for a majority of Ohio’s injured workers with back pain, according to a new rule. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation implemented the guideline Jan.1, to curb unnecessary back surgeries and reduce the risk of opioid abuse. It is said to be the most restrictive rule of its kind in the workers’ compensation system.

It is heartening to see the workers’ compensation system continuing the battle to prevent opioid abuse, misuse and diversion. While our industry has done a tremendous job in combatting the problem, it is by no means a done deal. The statistics still paint a horrific picture of the issue. The government estimates more than 100 people die daily as a result of opioid abuse.

Changes are afoot in the physical therapy profession and that’s good news for injured workers. The cookie cutter-approach is being replaced with more evidence based techniques. What’s more, we see a distinct trend toward more hands-on, less modality-based PT.

As physical therapists, we are able to provide relief for most causes of soft tissue aches and pains among workers. But the one source of pain over which we have little control is that associated with the flu.

The end of one year and start of another is a great time to assess the work we do and see how we can improve things going forward. One of my professional New Year’s resolutions is to look for ways to better serve the people we work with, especially injured workers and their employers.