Musculoskeletal conditions: the world's leading cause of disability

What they are

They are problems with muscles, bones, joints, tendons and ligaments. They include back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and fractures, and injuries.

How many people they affect

According to the WHO, about 1.71 billion people worldwide live with musculoskeletal conditions, which are the leading contributor to disability. Low back pain alone affected 619 million people in 2020.

They are not only a problem of older age. They affect people of every age and often keep them away from work and the things they enjoy.

What helps

For low back pain, the most common of them, the WHO suggests:

• Education and support to manage the problem yourself
• Exercise and physical therapies
• Staying active
• A healthy weight, good sleep and not smoking
• Changes to how and where you work

Painkillers should not be the first-line treatment. Rehabilitation matters at every stage, and the WHO wants it to be available to everyone with a musculoskeletal condition, at any age.

When to get help

If pain is not improving within a few weeks or is getting in the way of daily life, an assessment by a physiotherapist can help stop it becoming long-term.