What does Musculoskeletal (MSK) mean?

Musculoskeletal is anything that involves our muscles and joints and so you will hear us bandy this term around a lot! Physiotherapy is all about the assessment and treatment of Musculoskeletal (MSK) muscle and joint problems and as such we provide a range of speciality services ranging from diagnosis to treatments. MSK impairments comprise more than 150 different diseases/conditions that affect the system and are characterised by impairments in the muscles, bones, joints and adjacent connective tissues leading to temporary or lifelong limitations in functioning and participation.

Did you know that pain experienced in MSK structures is the most common form of non-cancer pain?

Sarah and I both have over 20 years of experience, and have successfully helped people suffering from many chronic (a long term injury or pain) and acute issues (like an injury caused by an accident) . The list of the MSK issues we have treated between the two of us is very long! But to give you a flavour, they include MSK issues likes Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), Tennis and Golfers Elbow, Patellar and Achilles tendinopathy, shoulder, ITB, calf and lateral hip pain. Also, unexpected impact /sports injuries such as sprains, dislocations and fractures including those that have been pinned.

We also have extensive experience of upper and lower limb joint replacements and ligament reconstructions,

Persistent complaints like headaches, low back pain, sciatica, thoracic, neck and shoulder pain, and long term conditions such as osteo and rheumatoid arthritis can also be relieved and supported by the right physiotherapy treatments.

MSK conditions are typically characterised by pain (often persistent) and limitations in mobility and dexterity, reducing people’s ability to work and participate in society.

MSK conditions can happen from childhood to older age. They range from sudden short lived conditions (such as fractures, sprains and strains, associated with pain and limitations in functioning) through to long-term conditions such as chronic primary low back pain and osteoarthritis. MSK conditions include those that affect:

Joints: such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, spondyloarthritis;

Bones: such as osteoporosis, osteopenia and associated fragility fractures, traumatic fractures;

Muscles, such as sarcopenia;

Multiple body areas or systems can be affected, such as regional (e.g. back and neck pain) and widespread (e.g. fibromyalgia) pain conditions, inflammatory diseases such as connective tissue diseases and vasculitis that have musculoskeletal manifestations, for example systemic lupus erythematosus, or amputation as a result of disease or trauma.

MSK disorders that can affect the joints, include

Gout: A type of inflammatory arthritis that can cause swelling, stiffness, and pain in the joints. Gout typically affects the lower limbs.

Osteoarthritis: A disease in which the cartilage in the joints breaks down, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Psoriatic arthritis: A type of arthritis that can cause fatigue, pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis: Swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joints that typically occurs in flares and affects the hands, wrists, and feet.

Bursitis: A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that minimises friction between the tendons, bones, and joints. Bursitis occurs when there is inflammation of the bursa, which can cause pain and a reduction of mobility in the joints.

MSK disorders that can affect the bones include:

Osteoporosis: A gradual weakening of the bones which typically develops slowly, making the bones more vulnerable to fractures and breaks.

Osteopenia: A decrease in bone mineral density that is not severe enough for a diagnosis of osteoporosis.

Osteomalacia: A softening and weakening of the bones due to them not hardening properly after forming.

Several MSK disorders can affect the muscles and tendons, such as:

Muscular dystrophy: A group of genetic conditions that slowly cause the muscles to weaken over time.

Sarcopenia: When the muscles surrounding the skeleton start to lose size and strength.

Myasthenia gravis: A rare condition in which voluntary muscles weaken and tire easily. Voluntary muscles are attached to bones and contract and relax under a person’s conscious control.

Rotator cuff tear: A torn tendon around the shoulder joint that can cause pain and a reduction in mobility.

Tendinitis: This describes inflammation of a tendon. Repetitive strain on a tendon can cause pain, swelling, and a reduction of mobility in that area.

Other health conditions

Several MSK disorders can affect multiple areas of the body or bodily systems at once including: fibromyalgia, which can cause widespread pain in the body, Autoimmune conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues in the body. and vasculitis describes a group of conditions in which the blood vessels become inflamed.

Connective tissue disorders, such as Marfan syndrome, can cause abnormalities in the bones, eyes, heart, and blood vessels.

Symptoms of MSK disorders can vary. However, the most common symptoms of MSK disorders are pain and a restriction of movement. Other symptoms can include:

• weakness

• stiffness

• numbness

• a burning or tingling sensation

• swelling

• a loss of strength

• fatigue

• discomfort

Causes

The risk of developing a MSK disorder increases as a person ages.

Research suggests that females may be more likely to develop a musculoskeletal disorder than males.

Other causes and risk factors for developing a musculoskeletal disorder may include:

• doing heavy physical labor

• prolonged sitting or standing in an awkward position

• repetitive strain

• smoking

• having obesity

• eating an unhealthy diet

• not getting enough physical activity

• doing high intensity dynamic exercise

• having other health conditions, such as kidney dysfunction

• having a family history of a musculoskeletal disorder

• having autoimmune diseases

• having metabolic syndromes

If you have any kind of MSK pan do contact us - no-one should have to live with pain and there may be something we can do to help. Call us on 07354 471470 or email hello@turraphysio.co.uk