By Prof Mick Thacker, Dr Kate Ryan and Leslie Pan
Pain, particularly musculoskeletal (MSK) pain, is both pervasive and complex.
Globally, approximately 1.71 billion people suffer from MSK conditions, which account for the leading cause of disability worldwide, with lower back pain being the single biggest contributor across 160 countries [1].
In the UK alone, between one-third and one-half of adults – just under 28 million people – live with chronic pain, with prevalence rising to 62 per cent among those over 75 [2].
This burden is both physical and economic. MSK pain reduces mobility, impairs productivity, and often intersects with
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