Understanding musculoskeletal health and why it matters
Musculoskeletal conditions are quickly becoming more common and costly, affecting more than one-third of U.S. adults and accounting for over $300 billion in total U.S. medical spending. That’s more than any other chronic condition.
Why the significant rise? A few reasons. People today tend to carry more weight and live more sedentary lifestyles. They’re living longer, so they’re experiencing natural age-related osteoarthritis and joint pain. And musculoskeletal pain is often ignored until it requires more intensive care or surgery.
Understanding the musculoskeletal (or MSK) system and addressing MSK pain early may help you manage health care costs by avoiding expensive tests, scans and surgery in the future.
See musculoskeletal coverage in myWellmark®
See coverage information on how your Wellmark coverage supports early, non-surgical care for musculoskeletal conditions.
What is the musculoskeletal system?
The musculoskeletal system includes muscles, bones, joints and adjacent connective tissue (tendons, ligaments and cartilage). All work together to enable movement — anything from walking to writing to breathing. The MSK system also plays a critical role in posture and balance, protects vital organs and produces blood cells.
Think of your MSK system as a framework — it holds you up, helps you move and protects key parts of you. With this system, even small problems can affect your quality of life in a big way.
So why is chronic musculoskeletal pain ignored?
Symptoms like chronic neck and back pain, stiffness and swelling in the muscles, bones and joints are often normalized as everyday aches and pains or simply “part of getting old.” This type of pain also tends to only flare periodically, so it’s not consistently top of mind. And musculoskeletal conditions may not show up on basic tests or imaging, which is how some people decide whether to seek care.
Don’t be too quick to look the other way. Ignoring MSK pain can lead to bigger problems later. Those little aches and pains, if left unaddressed, can negatively impact mobility, dexterity, the ability to work and how you function in daily life. MSK disorders are a leading cause of disability worldwide.
If you experience persistent MSK pain or swelling, lose range of motion or have trouble using a particular joint normally, talk to your provider. Don’t wait.
Wellmark offers musculoskeletal support and resources
There’s no need to live with musculoskeletal pain. Wellmark plans are designed to help you prevent and manage MSK conditions and get the care you need, like access to early, non-surgical treatment options.
Wellmark health plans support care like chiropractic treatment, physical therapy and occupational therapy for MSK conditions. Visit myWellmark to review your specific plan.
You can also access information on MSK prevention through Wellmark Connect powered by WebMD on myWellmark. Look for articles on bone and muscle health, arthritis, osteoporosis, ergonomics, pain management basics and healthy sleep and exercise habits.
Selecting and building a relationship with an in-network primary care provider is a great way to manage MSK conditions over time and keep overall health care costs down. Wellmark has a broad provider network.
MSK health matters. Visit myWellmark for more on MSK health — prevention, early treatment and pain management.
Disclosure
WebMD® is a registered mark of WebMD Health Services Group, Inc. WebMD is a separate company that provides wellness services on behalf of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.