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What is Musculoskeletal Disease?

More than 30% of Australians - adult and child, male and female - will be affected by arthritis or some form of musculoskeletal condition during their lives. Musculoskeletal disease is the greatest cause of disability in Australia.

The two most common forms of musculoskeletal disease are:

Arthritis

Frequently includes inflammation and pain in a joint or joints and its most common form is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective pad of cartilage covering the end of the bone inside a joint deteriorates.

Osteoporosis

Affects both men and women. It is a condition where the bones become fragile and brittle. It can be minimised with an adequate calcium intake and weight bearing exercise through life.

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The Ignored Majority

"The Ignored Majority - The Voice of Arthritis 2011" is a new research paper from Arthritis Australia. It details the results of a national survey to discover the impact of arthritis on Australians. Please click here to view.

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Arthritis 2nd Most Common Disabling Condition in Australia

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) recently published the results of the 2009 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers which found that one in five Australians had a disability in 2009, with Arthritis being the second highest disabling condition after back problems. The report acknowledges that "Some conditions, such as arthritis, may not result in disability in the short-term but does so after the effects of the disease increase along with the ageing process."

To view the ABS report click here to read more about the disability findings and click here to read about disease rates specifically involving the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, the most common being osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and back pain.