As every physio knows, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the major causes of sickness absence.
In the NHS alone 40 per cent of staff sickness absence is due to them, according to the CSP’s 2013 report, Fit enough for patients.
Back pain features heavily in MSDs. As many as 80 per cent of people report having it at some time in their life, according to the Department of Health. Not surprisingly the public hold a lot of myths and misconceptions about treating this condition.
The CSP’s latest campaign – myth busters – aims to challenge those misconceptions about back pain (see page 20). From mistakenly thinking you shouldn’t move, to expecting a scan to show you exactly what’s wrong.
You’ll find some posters in this issue of Frontline. Please use them in your clinic and if your copies are not in this issue contact the CSP enquiries team (020 7306 6666).
Back pain is just one of the many conditions where physios need to demonstrate their clinical effectiveness to commissioners and that their service is worth funding.
A new outcome measurement tool (MSK-HQ) to show the difference between physiotherapy treatments for a patient with an MSD such as back pain will help that.
It comes from Keele University and is endorsed by NHS England, the CSP and the Royal College of General Practitioners. Do check it out (page 8/9).
Finally, welcome to the physio students just starting their courses and reading Frontline for the first time. It’s one of the many CSP benefits you can enjoy as a member in the years ahead.
- Lynn Eaton is managing editor Frontline and head of CSP member communications eatonl@csp.org.uk
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Lynn Eaton managing editor Frontline and head of CSP member communicationsNumber of subscribers: 2
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