A leading physiotherapy expert at the University of Ghana, Professor Ajediran Idowu Bello, has made a compelling call for Ghana to recognise and address musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) as a national public health priority, warning that their impact extends beyond clinical discomfort to economic and social devastation.
Delivering a thought-provoking public lecture last Thursday at the University of Ghana under the theme “Beyond Movement: Addressing Musculoskeletal Disorders as a Public Health Imperative,” Prof. Bello underscored the urgent need for comprehensive policy attention to disorders affecting the bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments, structures responsible for supporting and moving the human body.
He revealed alarming statistics: over 70% of Ghanaian adults suffer from lower back pain, and 13.8% of people aged 50 and above live with knee osteoarthritis, together accounting for 20% of the country’s musculoskeletal disease burden.
“Preventing musculoskeletal disorders is not just about movement, it is about restoring dignity, reducing poverty, and protecting human potential,” Prof. Bello emphasised, urging policymakers to shift focus from treating these conditions as isolated ailments to addressing them as systemic, socioeconomic challenges.
He pointed out that in low- and middle-income countries like Ghana, these disorders are made worse by limited access to care and the country’s heavy dependence on out-of-pocket health spending.
Citing one of his studies in the Greater Accra Region, Prof. Bello explained that most patients with chronic back pain referred for physiotherapy earned between GH¢1,100 and GH¢1,500 monthly, yet the average cost of treatment was GH¢1,408, effectively consuming or exceeding their entire income.
“This creates a cycle of disability and financial strain,” he noted.
Call for Early Detection and Broader Interventions
To break this cycle, Prof. Bello proposed the implementation of a nationwide musculoskeletal screening programme, particularly targeting children and youth. He also called for ergonomic training in key sectors, the decentralisation of physiotherapy services to rural communities, and widespread public education to raise awareness of MSDs and their management.
He highlighted that nurses and health workers are among the most vulnerable, with one of his surveys showing that nearly 70% of respondents reported work-related musculoskeletal disorders, with low back pain topping the list.
The problem, he warned, starts even earlier. A study of schoolchildren in Accra found that 66% of pupils in primary and junior high schools showed signs of at least two musculoskeletal deformities, such as bent elbows and toes — warning signs that, if untreated, could develop into lifelong disabilities.
Urging Better Care for Women and Road Accident Victims
Prof. Bello further noted that pregnant women are particularly underserved in this regard. His research showed that less than half of 443 antenatal clinic attendees surveyed had adequate knowledge of birth defects or understood how physiotherapy could help. He therefore urged the integration of physiotherapy into maternity care.
He also shed light on the role of road accidents in fuelling musculoskeletal injuries, citing a multi-country study in Ghana and Nigeria which revealed that over half of all fractures requiring physiotherapy were the result of road traffic crashes, mostly among young adults aged 20 to 39.
A Wake-Up Call for Policymakers
Prof. Bello’s lecture concluded with a warning: musculoskeletal disorders are more than just physical ailments — they are silent barriers to productivity, education, maternal health and national development.
He called on the Ministry of Health and government at large to champion a coordinated strategy to integrate musculoskeletal care into public health programming and universal healthcare initiatives.
