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The hidden drivers of overspend and inefficiency in MSK care

A fresh dual-perspective survey, complete with real patient and provider stories, maps a clear path to more effective, unified care.

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The State of MSK Report 2026

Why is the right MSK care still so hard to find?

Despite the $661B annual spend on MSK care, most of the 40% of adults who experience MSK pain still don’t know how to find relief.¹ ² The 2026 State of Musculoskeletal Care report reveals why.

$661B annual spend on MSK care

There are four major misalignments in today’s MSK care

  1. Confusing start

    Nearly all providers (92%) agree that most MSK patients would benefit from starting physical therapy (PT) sooner, yet only 5% of patients saw a PT first.³

  2. Unclear journeys

    Over half of patients report considerable challenges and uncertainty while seeking care. When care is delayed, 70% experience worse pain.³

  3. Overlooked guidelines

    40% of providers say they lack the time or resources to help patients fully understand their condition and treatment options.³

  4. Incomplete care

    Many providers say they address lifestyle factors, but relatively fewer patients report receiving this kind of support.

There are four major misalignments in today’s MSK care

What patients are saying

“I saw four orthopedic surgeons over the years. No one ever suggested physical therapy. I did PT only after I had my surgeries — I can go up and down stairs normally for the first time.”

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Karen, Hinge Health member

Where providers are focusing

“I’ve seen many patients proceed quickly to surgery that didn’t relieve their pain and in retrospect, a thorough conservative assessment would likely have uncovered a better, less invasive path.”

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Grace Maloney, MD, Physiatrist, interventional spine specialist, Barrow Neurological Institute

Discover four key opportunities for your organization

  1. Get people to the right care at the start of their journey.

  2. Boost efficiency with thoughtful care coordination and navigation.

  3. Help patients avoid expensive and unnecessary treatment.

  4. Offer whole-person care that takes outcomes from good to great.

Discover four key opportunities for your organization

Start streamlining costs and improving care outcomes

Learn how to address misalignments that are causing inefficiencies and overspend in your organization.

  1. Health Advances. MSK Total Addressable Market Analysis. 2025.
  2. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. WHO Rehabilitation Need Estimator | IHME Viz Hub. University of Washington; 2021.
  3. Hinge Health. State of MSK Report. 2026