Introduction
Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are those that affect bones, muscles, joints, and the spine. Whilst relatively few people die from them, they impact considerably individuals and the population. Over 80% of people with a MSK condition report chronic pain and these conditions impact considerably on someone’s quality of life. MSK conditions are the single largest cause of years lived with a disability, and a considerable number of people locally and nationally are out of work because of their condition.
There are over 200 separate MSK conditions, the most common include:
- Conditions of MSK pain (e.g., osteoarthritis, back pain, neck pain)
- Inflammatory conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis)
- Osteoporosis and fragility fractures e.g., a fracture after a fall from a standing height
MSK conditions affect over 17 million people in England (around a third of the population) and modelling suggests that over 63,000 residents in North Tyneside are affected by MSK.People in North Tyneside are more likely to have a MSK condition than people in England overall and there are inequalities in who is affected.