How to develop strategies for improving musculoskeletal health

Musculoskeletal conditions are a major cause of morbidity and evidence-based strategies – such as the European Action Towards Better Musculoskeletal Health – have been developed to reduce their incidence and impact on individuals and on society. This issue is based around that report. These strategies are inclusive of all major musculoskeletal conditions with recommendations for prevention and management, stratified for degree of risk in the population. The development of these strategies required a framework that would enable the integration of evidence and expert opinion and the development of this is discussed. Implementation must be addressed if these strategies are to be effective and the actions required of, and implications for, different stakeholders are considered. In that report, we find evidence to support the need for an integrated approach for improving musculoskeletal health, by an improvement by the whole population in lifestyle with increasing physical activity, avoidance of obesity, smoking and excess alcohol along with prevention of accidents and musculoskeletal injuries. However, the individual health gain will be small and, in addition, specific interventions need to be targeted at those with most to gain – i.e. those at highest risk or those with the early features of a musculoskeletal condition.

Key words: musculoskeletal health, evidence-based strategies, prevention