Muscle and joint problems causing $5.5b burden - experts

Costs associated with the treatment of muscle and joint conditions are crippling the New Zealand health sector, according to the authors of a study released at Parliament this afternoon.

The study, Musculoskeletal Conditions in New Zealand, "The Crippling Burden" was produced by the Bone and Joint Decade NZ - a network of researchers, patient advocates, government agencies and industry groups.

BJD co-ordinator Chris Bossley described costs, which the study puts at over $5.5 billion per year, as an "unacceptable burden" which impacts upon individuals, families, employers and the economy.

Mr Bossley's co-author, Kim Miles, is the organisation's executive director in New Zealand.

Mr Miles said that despite the seriousness of the statistics, musculoskeletal conditions are often overlooked.

"This is mainly because they're generally not fatal, they can be relatively invisible and are often seen as an inevitable consequence of ageing."

He said that patients must be encouraged to take responsibility for their own care with the aid of cost-effective preventment and treatment.

"Unless we do, the impact of these conditions on the health system will grow steadily worse over the next 20 years and longer as our population ages," he said.

According to the study, the annual spend includes $2 billion for arthritis, $1.1 billion for osteoporosis and $1.6 billion on ACC claims, excluding physiotherapy costs.

* The Bone and Joint Decade NZ

- NZ HERALD STAFF