Musculoskeletal disorders affect the quality of life with acute and chronic pains. Such conditions contribute as the leading cause of disability around the world affecting the mobility and dexterity of the patients.

Different studies have also claimed that depression is associated with MSK disorders as the consistent and poorly treated pain leaves patients with the inability to continue their daily tasks. The comorbidity between depression and MSK pain in patients varies from 5-85 %. On the other hand, United Nations reports that the older population would account for more than 20 percent of the global population by 2050, and according to the study conducted by the UN “Burden of major musculoskeletal conditions” , the prevalence of MSK pains increases with the aging population.

David Pisetsky, MD, and professor of medicine and immunology at Duke University Medical School, argues that the costs of treating MSK disorders and the indirect costs associated with MSK pains are much higher than the resources allocated to the healthcare system to treat such conditions.



When patients visit PCPs for such issues, they are often prescribed different tests and opioids to quickly reduce their pain, but these treatments only result in short-term benefits. The pain medications can lead to many side effects that result in inadequate pain management and sometimes, opioid addiction. After conducting many studies, CDC concluded that nonpharmacologic and nonopioid therapy can treat MSK disorders effectively.

With chronic musculoskeletal pains, patients’ daily lives are significantly affected burdening the healthcare system with the increased demand for better-quality care at lower costs. Rehabilitation therapy has been proved to help patients by alleviating pain and building body strength. Effective rehabilitation treatments need to be incorporated in primary healthcare to efficiently reduce the MSK pains and improve the life quality of the patients.