Musculoskeletal Health: Addressing the Leading Causes of Disability.

Musculoskeletal conditions are not only the most common group of chronic health problems in our country, but they have a profound impact on critical domains of health including pain, disability, work participation, mental health, and potentially mortality. There are challenges to the treatment of common musculoskeletal conditions, including the current epidemic of opioid misuse and abuse. However, there are also evidence-based therapies that can be more effectively incorporated into care models for these conditions. This issue of the NCMJ describes the impact of common musculoskeletal conditions, gaps in care, and strategies for improving both prevention and management of these conditions. ©2017 by the North Carolina Institute of Medicine and The Duke Endowment. All rights reserved.