Introduzione

Musculoskeletal pain is very common, may be acute or chronic, and is a major cause of morbidity and occupational sickness absence. Studies have found a prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain in approximately 13% of the adult Danish population, [1] 16% of adults in the UK, [2] and 40% to 67% of women in New Zealand. [3] Over 20% of adults in Sweden report having back pain or shoulder pain. [4] Back pain is the second most common cause of loss of productive work time in US adults (after headache), accounting for a mean loss of over 5 hours' work time each week in those affected. Sickness absence and reduced productivity while at work caused by common pain conditions have been estimated to cost US businesses $61.2 billion per year. [5]