Musculoskeletal Health Conditions Represent a Global Threat to Healthy Aging: A Report for the 2015 World Health Organization World Report on Ageing and Health

Abstract

Persistent pain, impaired mobility and function, and reduced quality of life and mental well-being are the most common experiences associated with musculoskeletal conditions, of which there are more than 150 types. The prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal conditions increase with aging. A profound burden of musculoskeletal disease exists in developed and developing nations. Notably, this burden far exceeds service capacity. Population growth, aging, and sedentary lifestyles, particularly in developing countries, will create a crisis for population health that requires a multisystem response with musculoskeletal health services as a critical component. Globally, there is an emphasis on maintaining an active lifestyle to reduce the impacts of obesity, cardiovascular conditions, cancer, osteoporosis, and diabetes in older people. Painful musculoskeletal conditions, however, profoundly limit the ability of people to make these lifestyle changes. A strong relationship exists between painful musculoskeletal conditions and a reduced capacity to engage in physical activity resulting in functional decline, frailty, reduced well-being, and loss of independence. Multilevel strategies and approaches to care that adopt a whole person approach are needed to address the impact of impaired musculoskeletal health and its sequelae. Effective strategies are available to address the impact of musculoskeletal conditions; some are of low cost (e.g., primary care-based interventions) but others are expensive and, as such, are usually only feasible for developed nations. In developing nations, it is crucial that any reform or development initiatives, including research, must adhere to the principles of development effectiveness to avoid doing harm to the health systems in these settings.

Individual differences in pain: understanding the mosaic that makes pain personal

“…Given the aging of the world’s population, whether the experience of pain changes with age has drawn increasing attention in recent years [10; 32; 33; 62; 68; 73]. Patterns of pain prevalence across the lifespan are complex and they vary across pain conditions (see Figure 2 )[32].…”

Clinical course and prognosis of musculoskeletal pain in patients referred for physiotherapy: does pain site matter?

“…Musculoskeletal disorders are a common cause of ill-health, with substantial personal, community and societal consequences [1, 2]. In Denmark, over 50% of the adult population will have experienced pain or discomfort within the last 14 days, and 37% report that they have been severely bothered by their pain [3].…”

The Short-Term Effects of a Single Lecture on Undergraduate Physiotherapy Students' Understanding Regarding Pain Neurophysiology: A Prospective Case Series

“…Musculoskeletal pain is one of the most burdensome health-related issues in the world [1][2][3]. In some developed countries, musculoskeletal pain is estimated to be even more costly than other major diseases, such as stroke, ischemic heart diseases, cancer and diabetes mellitus [4].…”