Musculoskeletal Health
The 2010 Global Burden of Disease Study and related reports by WHO have focused international attention on low back pain and other musculoskeletal health issues. Associated diseases and injuries are now rated among the top ten and a leading cause of activity limitation and work absence world-wide. The resulting social and economic impact is expressed in 100s of millions in lost workdays and $billions lost wages and productivity per year. According to Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), in 2004-2005 musculoskeletal conditions accounted for 10.3% of the total economic burden of all illnesses in Canada,
In Canada and around the world, health professions, patients, and academics have joined forces to collaborate on bringing attention and solutions to address Musculoskeletal Health. Membership in the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health and its Canadian affiliate includes the national coalition of chiropractic associations and professional colleges. Their primary focus areas are spine and neuromusculoskeletal health and healthcare. Chiropractic care and treatment has been identified in numerous studies as efficacious and cost effective. BC’s chiropractic community is leading the development of a new research and education institute in Western Canada to promote education and research in spine and neuromusculoskeletal health and healthcare.
