Rising Prevalence of Comorbidity in Musculoskeletal Disorders Highlights Need for Better Management Strategies

According to recent research, the prevalence of comorbidity amongst individuals seeking care for musculoskeletal disorders is increasing, highlighting the importance of understanding how healthcare professionals manage individuals with musculoskeletal disorders and comorbidity. A comprehensive literature review conducted by researchers from Aalborg University Hospital analyzed the existing literature on healthcare professionals' challenges and perspectives in managing individuals with musculoskeletal disorders and comorbidity. The review found that a lack of knowledge and training in addressing comorbidities, particularly psychological conditions, diabetes, and obesity, is a significant barrier for making individualized treatment plans. The research emphasizes the need for further training to support clinicians in treating this patient population and for further research exploring the perspectives of healthcare professionals.

Key Takeaways:

• The prevalence of comorbidity amongst individuals seeking care for musculoskeletal disorders is rising, highlighting the importance of understanding how healthcare professionals manage individuals with musculoskeletal disorders and comorbidity.
• A lack of knowledge and training in addressing comorbidities, particularly psychological conditions, diabetes, and obesity, is a significant barrier for making individualized treatment plans.
• Most studies included in the review focused on individuals with osteoarthritis and comorbidity.
• Common challenges identified included a lack of knowledge and training in addressing comorbidities, particularly psychological conditions, diabetes, and obesity.
• The systematic literature review highlights the limited evidence on the experiences of healthcare professionals in treating individuals with musculoskeletal disorders and comorbidity.
• Physiotherapists were the primary target group in all included studies, while one study also included occupational therapists.
• The review found that healthcare professionals face challenges in making individualized treatment plans due to a lack of knowledge and training in addressing comorbidities.

Statistics:

• The systematic search yielded 2645 articles, of which five studies were included in the review.
• All included studies focused on physiotherapists as the target group, while one study also included occupational therapists.
• Most studies (4 out of 5) focused on individuals with osteoarthritis and comorbidity.
• 5 studies were included in the review, all with a qualitative nature that explored healthcare professionals' experiences in the management of individuals with musculoskeletal disorders and comorbidity.
• The prevalence of comorbidity amongst individuals seeking care for musculoskeletal disorders is rising.

Sources:

• Challenges and Perspectives in Treating Individuals With Musculoskeletal Disorders and Comorbidity: A Systematic Literature Review With a Descriptive Thematic Synthesis. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 2025;39(4).
• NewsRx. Recent Findings in Science Described by Researchers from Aalborg University Hospital (Challenges and Perspectives in Treating Individuals With Musculoskeletal Disorders and Comorbidity: A Systematic Literature Review With a Descriptive Thematic ...). Obesity & Diabetes Week. October 20, 2025; p 98.