RHEUMATOLOGICAL AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS

Many common locomotor problems are short-lived and self-limiting or settle with a course  of simple analgesia and/or physical treatment; forexample,   physiotherapy or osteopathy. However, they represent 20–30% of the workload of the primary care physician, where non-inflammatory problems predominate. Recognition and appropriate early treatment of many painful rheumatic conditions may help reduce the incidence of chronic pain disorders. Early recognition   and subsequent treatment of inflammatory arthritis by specialist multidisciplinary teams leads to better symptom control and prevents long-term joint damage and disability. A wide selection of pamphlets and websites offer helpful advice for patients, and their use should be encouraged. Most of the musculoskeletal diseases are seen worldwide, although the prevalence of individual conditions varies.