General Health & MSK
Health and Wellbeing advice for patients with a musculoskeletal condition
MSK Health and Wellbeing
There are a number of factors which can contribute to the onset or management of a musculoskeletal condition. These can include:
- General health (being overweight, low activity levels)
- Life stage (adolescence, pregnancy, menopause, elderly)
- Physical activity (low activity or sudden increase in activity levels)
- Smoking
- Alcohol /drug use
- Poor sleep
- Diabetes
- Hydration (drinking enough water and fluids)
- Vitamin D (low levels)
- Work-related issues
- Mental health (stress, anxiety or depression)
- Domestic violence
The links below provide more information that you might find useful:
- OneYouLeeds (local support and information to help with stopping smoking)
- Mindwell-Leeds (local support and information to help you look after your mental wellbeing)
- Live-well-NHS (NHS advice and information on health living and wellbeing)
- Active-Leeds (local free activities to help you get active)
- Linking Leeds (services and activities in your community)
- Healthy-Living-Leeds (local healthcare information)
- Hydration for health (information about drinking enough water from Hydration for Health partnership)
- Vitamin D facts (vitamin D fact sheet from the Association of UK Dieticians)
- Carers Leeds (If you have caring responsibilities, such as helping with finances, personal care and domestic tasks and would like some information or support, please contact Carers Leeds Advice Line on 0113 380 4305)
Life has many stages. To be the best that we can be throughout life, look at the links below relating to:
- Womens health / menopause (NHS information on menopause symptoms and treatments)
- Ageing (Age-UK information, advice and services)
- Cruse Bereavement care
- Macmillan Cancer support
Musculoskeletal conditions can make getting to the toilet difficult. They can also be linked to changes in the organs within the pelvis including your bladder, bowel and sexual organs. Incontinence is very common particularly as we age. You can speak to your doctor about things that can be done to help.
Changes in the pelvic floor muscles that support the organs in the pelvis are common and can be linked to prolapse and incontinence. The links below provide more information:
If you develop incontinence suddenly, it may be linked to a problem in your back and could be a sign of something more serious. Please see section on ‘When to seek further advice or medical care’ on our Back Problems page.
