some hidden practical points in chronic musculoskeletal pain prevention

Chronic musculoskeletal disorders (msd) affects about 20% of adults, yielding significant functional, professional and mood disabilities, resulting in surprising economic burden annually worldwide [1, 2]. low back pain (lbp) and chronic cervical pain are the most common and catastrophic ones leading in disability and work absenteeism [2]. despite wide coverage of researches and literature regarding chronic msd pain and developing evidence-based guidelines to help patients and physicians [3, 4], the high proportion of such patients suggests shortage of present strategies. studies showed neglected acute pains could cause neuroplasticity processes in central nerve system (cns) which stimulate pain centers without stimulants leading to chronic pain that is difficult to manage [5]. therefore, prevention of pain chronicity might have large effects in terms of patients’ quality of life and costs for health care system. we need to know: factors influencing pain chronicity, recognizing tools to detect these factors and using strategies to target factors for further changes.