Are people addressing their MSK health more proactively? Cigna Healthcare is seeing that trend in its data, with people now taking movement health more seriously than ever before.
Encouraging new analysis from Cigna Healthcare shows people are increasingly alert to the impact of poor musculoskeletal (MSK) health and taking steps to safeguard their well-being before it gets to the point of surgery.
Affecting more than 1.7 billion people globally, according to the World Health Organization, MSK conditions are the leading cause of disability in most countries and a major drag on economic productivity and quality of life. In the U.S. MSK conditions cost the healthcare system an estimated $980 billion, or 5.8% of GDP – more than any other chronic condition. In the U.K., they account for up to 30% of all GP consultations and lead to an estimated 30 million working days lost.
Movement in the right direction
But amid the challenges, Cigna Healthcare is seeing favorable indications that people are actively bolstering their MSK health. Over the last five years, Cigna Healthcare benefits for MSK-related care have eased to a compound annual growth rate of 6.8%.[1] Meanwhile, more and more Cigna Healthcare members are seeking outpatient rather than inpatient care. Overall, there has been a broad reduction in inpatient MSK procedures despite the number of reported health issues remaining steady.[2]
Cormac Mackle, FSA Senior Actuarial Manager at Cigna Healthcare explains, “The trend looks positive. We have seen a reduction in overall costs for treatment of MSK conditions due to the reduced need for in-patient MSK procedures. At the same time, we’re happy to see the use of out-patient care increasing – this is how you prevent MSK conditions developing. The public information message about the need for MSK resilience is working.”
Backbone of a healthy workforce
Indeed, outpatient solutions, such as physiotherapy, are vital to preventing, identifying, and treating MSK issues earlier. The sooner someone sees a specialist about a niggling ache or pain, the fewer years they are likely to spend living in pain or with disability. This is why preventive MSK health programs are among the most common strategies adopted by employers to ensure their people remain healthier, more mobile, and more productive for longer.
For example, an employee who uses ergonomic workplace facilities and takes advantage of MSK physiotherapy sessions – whether covered individually or by their employer – significantly reduces their chances of developing lower back pain in middle or old age. In the longer term, this kind of approach can mean the difference between an active life with full employment, or disability leading to early retirement.
Early interventions also help overcome an almost universal barrier to care: cost. Inpatient services (surgery) are becoming more expensive every year on a per-procedure basis, as bed shortages and costs associated with technology and hospital services grow rapidly alongside health inflation.
Next steps for organizations
“The path forward for employers is clear,” says Sevda Esenturk, HR officer at Cigna International Health. “Making MSK prevention options available and broadcasting awareness ensures a healthier, more productive workforce and lower costs.”
Sevda points to three actions employers should take on MSK:
- Provide a range MSK prevention solutions as part of employees’ health care benefits, including solutions such as physiotherapy, targeted workout training, ergonomic office furniture, etc.
- Implement an ongoing drive to increase awareness of MSK issues among employees and their families. This should emphasize the prevalence of MSK conditions, the real impact of early intervention, and the benefits employees can make use of.
- Assess the ongoing cost of MSK issues: This should involve not only a long-term measure of lost productivity due to MSK issues, but also a conversation with employees about their experiences and needs in relation to MSK health.
“We see these actions making a genuine difference to organizations in terms of employee absence and medical claims,” Sevda adds, “not to mention the improvement to organizational culture and morale.”
MSK preparedness is also likely to be an increasingly core aspect of the employee value proposition. New generations are taking these issues seriously years and even decades in advance, thus hopefully avoiding – or at least mitigating – MSK issues later in life. As sedentary behavior is a key determiner of MSK health, many people now rightly expect practical support from their employers.
[1] Data from Cigna Healthcare internal analysis as of July 2024. Subject to change.
[2] Ibid
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