Guarded Movements:

Abstract

Despite increasing advances in medical technology, the cost of musculoskeletal incapacity, particularly low-back pain, in terms of sickness benefits, invalidity benefits and associated allowances has led to a fundamental reconsideration of the nature of chronic incapacity. Recent reports from the United Kingdom and the United States of America, in their recommendations for a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment for patients still symptomatic at six weeks, are based on the clear assumption that a significant proportion of chronic incapacity is preventable. Such a proposition represents a fundamental challenge to much of current medical practice.