Improved evidence-based management of acute musculoskeletal pain

Guidelines from the National Health and Medical Research Council are now available

A recent World Health Organization report on the burden of musculoskeletal conditions in 2002 noted that these were a major cause of morbidity throughout the world. While much of this burden of disease is due to chronic arthropathies such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, the commonest problems by far involve acute musculoskeletal pain in the back, neck and large joints. “Acute” is defined as duration of symptoms not exceeding 3 months.