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.

More reports and statistics on musculoskeletal conditions can be found under Chronic disease.

Latest findings

1 in 7 Australians have experienced some form of arthritis 1 in 6 Australians with arthritis reported high or very high levels of psychological distress 3 in 4 Australians with arthritis have reported at least one other chronic condition 1 in 4 people with osteoarthritis self-reported fair or poor health, twice as much as people without the condition 1 in 11 Australians (9%) have osteoarthritis, approximately 2.1 million people in 2014–15 2 in 3 people who have osteoarthritis are female 1 in 2 Australians with arthritis reported moderate to severe pain 36% rise in the rate of total knee replacements for osteoarthritis from 2005–06 to 2015–16

Featured reports

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Highlights

30%of Australians reported arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions in 2014–15 around 6.9 million people
3rdleading cause of disease burden in Australia in 2011 was back pain and problems
1 in 11Australians reported osteoarthritis in 2014–15
4 timesmore men than women have gout—8 in 10 people with gout are men
3 out of 4Australians with arthritis report at least one other chronic condition
1 in 10Australians aged 50 and over reported osteoporosis or osteopenia (low bone density) in 2014–15
2%of Australians reported having rheumatoid arthritis in 2014–15
1 in 1000 children aged 0-15 years is affected by juvenile arthritis