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Benefit Strategies

Top 5 musculoskeletal trends & 5 benefit strategies for 2021

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In 2020, the pandemic fundamentally shifted the way we deliver healthcare from a brick-and-mortar approach to virtual care. However, what are some of the new musculoskeletal (MSK) trends we’re seeing during COVID and how will they impact back and joint care post-COVID? Here are the top MSK trends and strategies to redefine MSK care in 2021. As you design your MSK benefits for 2021, this report will provide insights into: the latest MSK trends during COVID and how they will impact benefit design post-COVID, new innovativem approaches to MSK care, and how you can redesign MSK benefits to offer better outcomes and keep your MSK spend low.

5 MSK trends during COVID & beyond

Here are 5 current MSK trends during COVID that open the door for employers to redefine MSK care post-COVID—ensuring members get recommended conservative care, avoid unnecessary surgeries, and reduce MSK spend.

The first trend is not new. MSK still continues to outpace allconditions, including cancer, cardiovascular, and diabetes care, as the top cost driver in 2020. Nine out of ten employers surveyed by the Business Group on Health ranked MSK as a top cost driver. This was higher than any other medical area and is largely driven by high MSK surgery costs.

  1. 5 MSK trends and 5 benefit strategies for 2021

Key Takeaways

MSK spend
90% of employers report MSK as their top medical claims spend
Increased pain
71% of members with back & joint pain are experiencing new or increased pain
Mental health
48% are experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression

MSK Trends

MSK still continues to outpace all conditions as top cost driver

Remote work’s sedentary lifestyle is resulting in increased back & joint pain during COVID. While MSK was the #1 cost driver for employers pre-COVID, since the pandemic struck—it has only become more challenging. The second trend reveals that remote workers’ sedentary lifestyle is resulting in increased back and joint pain during COVID. Hinge Health conducted a survey of 900+ employees in June 2020 that revealed close to half of employees are experiencing back and joint pain and over 71% are experiencing new or worsening MSK pain since working from home during the pandemic.

This comes as no surprise as many people work in makeshift home offices with minimal daily movement compared to their pre-pandemic lives. Even post-COVID, we expect remote work to continue to be the new normal.

According to a Gartner survey, more than 80% of company leaders plan to permit employees to work remotely at least part of the time and 47% will allow them to work remotely full-time post-pandemic.

Key Takeaways
Top three challenges of working from home
Isolation, lack of movement, work/personal balance
Key Takeaways
Top three challenges of working from home
Isolation, lack of movement, work/personal balance

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