Epidemiology and Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders

Musculoskeletal disorders encompass a spectrum of more than 150 conditions affecting bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons. As populations age and sedentary lifestyles prevail, the global prevalence of conditions such as low back pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, neck pain and gout has risen sharply. These disorders represent a leading cause of years lived with disability and impose substantial socioeconomic costs through lost productivity and health‐care expenditure. Epidemiological patterns vary by age, sex and region, with higher burdens observed among older adults and in regions undergoing rapid demographic transition. Key modifiable risk factors include high body‐mass index, occupational ergonomic exposures and psychosocial stressors. Management strategies span primary prevention—through weight management, physical activity promotion and ergonomic interventions—to early diagnosis, patient education and multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Non‐pharmacological approaches, notably structured exercise programmes and self‐management support, form the cornerstone of treatment, while pharmacological agents and surgical options are reserved for severe or refractory cases. Emerging therapies target inflammatory pathways and tissue regeneration, and digital health solutions are broadening access to exercise guidance and monitoring. Effective control of musculoskeletal conditions demands coordinated public health policies, integration of care across settings and alignment with non‐communicable disease strategies to optimise functional outcomes and quality of life.

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Epidemiology and Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in epidemiology and management of musculoskeletal disorders across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Prevalence: Proportion of a population affected by a condition at a specific time.

Incidence: Rate of new cases of a condition occurring in a population over a given period.

Years lived with disability (YLD): Measure combining prevalence and severity to quantify non‐fatal health loss.

Disability‐adjusted life year (DALY): Composite metric summing years of life lost and years lived with disability.

Socio‐demographic Index (SDI): Aggregate indicator of income per capita, educational attainment and fertility reflecting development level.

References

1. Strategies for optimising musculoskeletal health in the 21st century. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (2019).
2. Global, regional, and national burden of other musculoskeletal disorders, 1990–2020, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet Rheumatology (2023).
3. Global, regional, and national neck pain burden in the general population, 1990–2019: An analysis of the global burden of disease study 2019. Frontiers in Neurology (2022).
4. Pattern and trend of five major musculoskeletal disorders in China from 1990 to 2017: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. BMC Medicine (2021).