From back pain to bottom line: How MSK shapes employer costs
Common workplace pain is quietly fueling billions in health care spend — making musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions a critical focus for employers.
Limiting a person’s capacity through chronic pain, stiffness and swelling in the bones, muscles, joints and certain connective tissues, musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders are a leading cause of disability worldwide, with low back pain being the most common condition.1
MSK conditions have several underlying causes, including bone, joint and muscle injuries, frequent exertion, overuse and repetitive motion, and poor posture.2 Other chronic conditions, such as arthritis and osteoporosis, can also contribute to MSK symptoms. Obesity is often a comorbidity to MSK conditions as extra weight can make lifting and reaching more difficult than for those who are not considered obese.3
MSK conditions impact nearly 40% of U.S. adults and is the leading cause of disability worldwide,4 with low back pain being the most common contributor. These conditions don't just impact a person physically; they diminish their ability to perform daily life activities and to bring their best selves to work.
Generating nearly $381B in annual medical costs4 with related per-member, per-month costs rising 9% in 2025 according to the UnitedHealthcare 2026 Health Trends Report,5 MSK is becoming a cost driver employers can't afford to ignore.
This can be especially important to employees who work in the industrial and manufacturing industries or with jobs that require heavy lifting, repetitive motions and frequent exertion, which can lead to overuse and bone, joint and muscle injuries. Chronic conditions, such as arthritis and osteoporosis, can also contribute to or exacerbate MSK symptoms, especially for those with obesity.
While regular shoulder or back pain have seemingly become the norm in certain industries, the reality is that the impact of MSK disorders can be seen across industries and permeate throughout workforces. Left unaddressed, the daily disruption of MSK symptoms and chronic pain can lead to decreased productivity and increased likelihood of anxiety, depression or even substance use for those impacted employees.6
By taking a whole-person approach, which includes strategies like ensuring workplace safety and support, providing specialized care options and more, employers have an opportunity to help employees manage MSK conditions and possibly lower costs and productivity impact.
1. Ensure workplace safety and support
Some of the most common MSK conditions, such as lower back pain and arthritis, are often compounded by daily repetitive actions like sitting for prolonged periods of time or lifting and moving heavy objects. Educating employees and putting guidelines in place to ensure any heavy lifting is done safely and effectively in the workplace can be critical to preventing or mitigating the worsening of MSK conditions.
Offering regular breaks from this activity throughout the day may also help. For employees with desk jobs, it’s important to ensure they have what they need ergonomically, such as ergonomic chairs and adjustable workstations, and that they are encouraged to take stretch or walk breaks.
2. Encourage healthy lifestyles
Encouraging employees to live healthier lives can help lower the risk of MSK conditions or minimize their impact once diagnosed. Employers may want to consider offering discounted gym memberships or wellness programs that reward employees for taking healthy actions and participating in preventive care.
For instance, programs that reward eligible employees for taking meaningful steps toward better health — including reaching physical activity goals, completing annual checkups and staying current on preventive screenings — can help. Educating employees about improving their base-level health can also reduce risk factors, such as obesity, and may help with other existing conditions.
Employers can also promote additional resources like UHC Store, a digital shop available exclusively to UnitedHealthcare members via the UnitedHealthcare® app and myuhc.com®. Employees are able to purchase additional offerings that are designed to help support everyday health, fitness and nutrition, and care coordination assistance for complex and chronic conditions like MSK and more.
3. Provide specialized care options
Managing MSK conditions can look different based on the stage an individual is in and the severity of their care needs — whether they are just beginning to need support or whether they need conservative care, surgical procedures or ongoing maintenance options.
As such, employers should ensure that their employees have access to a breadth of specialists within their carrier’s provider network: physical or occupational therapists, chiropractors, orthopedists and other relevant providers. A strong provider search experience may be helpful too, since it can empower members to navigate their choices and connect them to care that fits their individual needs and personal preferences.
To complement in-person appointments that may be disruptive to an employee’s work or home life, digital offerings that are designed to help target musculoskeletal conditions may help. The UHC Hub® gives employers access to a platform where they can select from a portfolio of vendors — including lifestyle, specialized health and care vendors across a number of categories.
4. Ensure employees have access to cost-effective pain medications
Many MSK conditions necessitate pain medications, which can drive significant prescription spend. As a result, employers may want to consider integrating pharmacy and medical benefits. It’s crucial for employers to regularly review pharmacy coverages and Prescription Drug Lists and to work with a carrier that can help ensure employees receive the necessary prescription support at the lowest possible cost for effective pain management that doesn’t break the bank.
When pharmacy and medical benefits are integrated, decisions about where a medication is covered—medical or pharmacy — can be handled more consistently and efficiently. This alignment supports better care coordination, reduces complexity and helps manage total cost of care without compromising access to effective pain management.
5. Support the emotional and mental toll of MSK pain
MSK pain doesn’t just take a toll physically. It can also take a toll emotionally and mentally. Employees can become frustrated and saddened by the reality of not being able to do what they enjoy in life due to the burden of MSK conditions. Supporting employees’ behavioral and mental health by offering digital or self-guided resources for lower severity needs as well as talk therapy can be critical to addressing the non-physical effects of MSK conditions.
Apps like Calm Health can offer a secure and convenient option for members to connect with personalized resources to support their mental health needs in the moment or as a supplement to engagement with a licensed professional.
6. Help employees manage related medical expenses
The medical and pharmaceutical cost of treating and managing MSK conditions and the potential loss of income that can occur if an individual can’t work for a period of time due to the MSK condition can create significant financial stress for employees and their families.
Educating employees about cost-effective treatment options, such as ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), facilities that provide surgical care and discharge patients in the same day, and Centers of Excellence (COEs), which are designated facilities that use evidence-based quality of care protocols to deliver cost-effective care for complex medical procedures.
Additionally, financial wellness benefits, which may include educational tools that improve financial literacy, tax-advantaged financial accounts can help employees better manage medical expenses. While supplemental health benefits may deliver faster payouts when unexpected medical bills arise and short-term, paid disability leave may alleviate some of the stress caused by work-related injuries.
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