CHIR12006

Week 4 Study Guide Answers

Global Burden of MSK Disorders

Q1. What conditions have been identified as the top 7 musculoskeletal (MSK)
disorders?

A1. Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders consist mainly of the following 7

conditions;
• Low back pain
• Occupationally related back pain
• Neck pain
• Osteoarthritis (OA)
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Gout
• Low bone mineral density

Q2. What are the costs to society regarding MSK disorders and how are they
measured?

A2. Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders are the second most common cause of
disability world-wide. This is measured by years lived with disability (YLDs).
 Low back pain being the most frequent. Low back pain (LBP) is ranked
first in Australasia (including Australia & New Zealand) Worldwide low
back pain is ranked 6th.
 Costs include Pain and physical disability affect social functioning,
mental health and further diminishing quality of life.

Q3. Describe the incidence and prevalence of the following conditions:

 Rheumatoid arthritis
 Osteoporosis
 Osteoarthritis
 Low back pain
A3.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Incidence and prevalence
• 2x greater in females than males
• Prevalence around 1% in developing countries

Osteoporosis
Incidence and prevalence
• 5% women aged 50 years to 50% at age 85 of white postmenopausal women
• More than half of women aged 50 will experience a fracture in their lifetime.

Osteoarthritis
Incidence and prevalence
• Incidence higher in females, 65-74 years of age
• Those <45- men are more affected than women

Low back pain

Incidence and prevalence
• Highest incidence in working populations aged 25-64
• New episodes 2x’s as common in those with previous history of back pain
• At any point in time 4%-33% are suffering back pain.

Q4. From the list below which five (5) conditions is there is good quality
evidence suggesting chiropractors can offer spinal manipulative therapy
(SMT).

Cervicogenic headache &

Thoracic pain
dizziness
Elbow pain Gout
Acute low back pain Osteoarthritis
Intervertebral disc disease Subacute low back pain
 Diabetic peripheral neuropathy Chronic low back pain
Congenital hip dysplasia Frozen shoulder
Rheumatoid arthritis Osteoporosis
Migraine Knee pain

A4. There is good quality evidence suggesting chiropractors can offer spinal
manipulative therapy for the following five (5) conditions.

Disorder 1: ___Acute Low back pain __

Disorder 2: ___Rheumatoid Arthritis _
Disorder 3: ___Osteoporosis __
Disorder 4: ___Gout __
Disorder 5: ___Osteoarthritis __

Q5. What is the meaning of “burden of disease”? According to the Australian

Government, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The burden
of musculoskeletal conditions in Australia. A detailed analysis of the Australian
Burden of Disease Study 2011

A5. Burden of disease analysis measures the combined impact of living with
illness and injury (non-fatal burden) and dying prematurely (fatal burden)
(AIHW 2016b). More than merely counting deaths and disease prevalence, it
also takes into account age at death and severity of disease. The contribution
of various modifiable risk factors to disease burden can also be estimated. See
Box 2 for key burden of disease terms used in this report. Box 2:

Q6. What population groups in Australia have been identified as being most
at risk to experience a high-level musculoskeletal disease?
A6. In 2011, the rate of total burden due to musculoskeletal conditions was
generally:
• similar across the states and territories, although the rate in Tasmania was
20% higher than the national rate
• higher among people living in very remote areas and inner regional areas,
compared with other remoteness areas
• higher among people living in areas of the lowest socioeconomic group,
compared with other socioeconomic groups
• higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compared with
non-Indigenous Australians, with the exception of burden of back pain and
problems, which was lower among Indigenous Australians

Q7. What have been shown to be the benefits of using force plate analysis
devices in chiropractic education.

A7. Discuss with your tutor and compile a list of benefits with your fellow
students.