Problem Statement
Musculoskeletal disorders and diseases are the leading cause of disability in the United States, accounting for more than one half of all chronic conditions in people aged older than 50 years in developed countries.[19] The economic impact of these conditions is also staggering: in 2004, direct expenditures in health care costs and indirect expenditures in lost wages were estimated to total $849 billion, or 7.7% of the national gross domestic product.[20] The goal of this policy statement is to encourage the development and dissemination of educational initiatives and materials to address musculoskeletal disorders as a public health problem, to increase advocacy for important public health legislation, and to inform and train public health and health care workers in the prevention, treatment, and ongoing health promotion for people with musculoskeletal disabilities through public and professional educational programs.