Overview

Musculoskeletal conditions are conditions of the bones, muscles and connective tissues. Common musculoskeletal conditions include various forms of arthritis, back pain and problems, osteoporosis and gout.

Latest findings

There was a 38% rise in the rate of total knee replacements for osteoarthritis from 2005–06 to 2016–17 3 in 4 Australians over 45 with arthritis have self-reported at least one other chronic condition 1 in 10 people with osteoarthritis 45 & over self-reported poor health, twice as much as people without the condition 3 in 5 people who have osteoarthritis are female 1 in 7 Australians have some form of arthritis 1 in 5 Australians with arthritis experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress 1 in 2 Australians with arthritis experienced moderate to severe pain 1 in 11 Australians (9.3%) have osteoarthritis, approximately 2.2 million people in 2017–18

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Highlights

29%of Australians reported arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions in 2017–18, around 7.0 million people
1 in 11Australians reported osteoarthritis in 2017–18
Men are more likelythan women to have gout—almost 9 in 10 people with gout are men
2nd leadingcause of overall disease burden in Australia in 2015 was back pain and problems
1 in 5 Australians aged 75 and over reported osteoporosis or osteopenia (low bone density) in 2017–18
1.9% of Australians reported having rheumatoid arthritis in 2017–18
1 in 1000children aged 0–15 years is affected by juvenile arthritis
3 out of 4Australians aged 45 and over with arthritis report at least one other chronic condition