Employers can and should do more to help people with arthritis, it has been claimed.

Managing director of The Work Foundation Steve Bevan said that it is not always necessary for sufferers to stay away from work and by undertaking certain measures to accommodate them, employers can keep their workers in the office.

"For people with physical impairments for example lower back pain, this might mean changing the physical layout of the workplace or reducing physical job demands," he stated.

Mr Bevan added that flexible working time may help some - such as rheumatoid arthritis sufferers - who suffer greater pain in the morning and thus would benefit from starting work later.

Those suffering with back pain may find that using an ultrasound probe helps them to get into work more.

Last week, the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance called on employers to do more to help people with such problems stay in work.

It noted that such conditions led to 10.8 million working days being lost in 2008-09.