Back Pain and Common Musculoskeletal Problems

Knowledge of the common nonarticular regional rheumatic disorders is important because of their high prevalence in primary care practice, the dependence on clinical findings for diagnosis, and the high cost that can result from unnecessary laboratory evaluations. The ability to recognize important patterns of pain and associated physical signs is essential to making a correct diagnosis; in most cases, radiographic and laboratory studies are not needed. This review covers the common causes of pain in the neck, back, shoulder, chest wall, elbow, hand and wrist, hip girdle, knee and lower leg, and ankle and foot. This review contains 5 figures, 11 tables, and 96 references. Key words Acute back pain, Chronic back pain, Lumbar stenosis, Shoulder pain, Chest wall pain, Elbow pain, Hand and wrist pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Hip girdle pain, Knee and lower leg pain, Ankle and foot pain