
14/07/2023
𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗠𝗦𝗞𝘀) 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀
Some MSK conditions can cause long term disability and prevent the individual from working, this can lead to increasing pain, disability, loss of work and mental stress.
The effects of poor MSK health
Poor MSK health affects people of all ages. The ageing population, rising obesity rates and reduced physical activity will increase the prevalence of poor MSK health in the years to come.
For many years there has been a perception that MSK conditions are unavoidable and part of the ageing process, leading to a focus on treatments to alleviate the pain and discomfort. While life expectancy has risen, many people are living longer in poorer health – particularly those in more deprived parts of the country.
The older a person is, the more likely they are to experience chronic diseases and disabilities such as poor musculoskeletal health.
MSK problems
MSK problems are characterised by pain, stiffness, and limitation of movement, which can affect the person’s ability to live independently. For some people, this can cause significant stress, often leading to a disruption in normal family life and preventing them from working.
Without professional support, there is the additional risk of developing psychological distress and economic hardship. According to Versus Arthritis, only 59.4% of people of working age with an MSK condition are in work, and around 1 in 5 people with arthritis has depression.
Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions such as arthritis and back pain affected an estimated 18.8 million people across the UK in 2017.
They accounted for more than 22% of the total burden of ill health (morbidity) in the UK, and low back and neck were the biggest cause of ill health overall across all ages. This is a major public health crisis that is predicted to grow with a major impact on the health and social care sector, the economy and the quality of life for an individual.