Moving Towards Savings: How Exercise and Education Can Reduce Musculoskeletal Care Costs

Mark Kingsriter

Low back pain is among the most common reasons people seek care, affecting four out of five individuals at some point in their lives. It’s not surprising, then, that treatment for low back pain and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions—including acute trauma (injuries), autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and arthritis, and gradual degeneration (wear and tear)—consistently generate high healthcare costs. Much of that spend is attributed to prescription medication, massage therapy, physical therapy, specialist appointments, radiology, surgery, and long-term care.

What might be a surprise is that those high-cost treatments aren’t always the most effective solution. In many cases, education and movement can play a significant role in lessening symptoms and aiding in recovery, offering a more affordable and sustainable approach for both individuals and health plans. By encouraging these approaches, health plans have the opportunity to mitigate rising costs associated with MSK care without compromising outcomes.

In fact, today’s practice guidelines for musculoskeletal care recommend this more conservative approach. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Veterans Health Administration, and American College of Physicians (ACP) encourage less invasive treatments such as ice and over-the-counter pain relievers, education and exercise, relaxation and mindfulness. That’s great news for health plans because encouraging conservative care for low back pain can help reduce healthcare spend, improve member wellbeing and build health plan loyalty.

In cases where clinical screening has excluded potentially more serious conditions, member education and access to support for active recovery workouts can be effective steps to help health plan members prevent, manage, or recover from low back pain.

Member education as a first line of treatment

Back pain can be scary. Acknowledging a patient's fear and discomfort is important, as is assuring them that in most cases, they will likely recover relatively quickly. Patient education is often considered a first-line treatment for low back pain, and people who are knowledgeable about their condition are better able to self-manage their care, according to the National Institutes for Health.

Health plans can step in with ongoing information and education. The NIH recommends building health literacy by using plain language and offering information in bite-size chunks. The goal is to reduce worry about back pain and to teach ways to avoid worsening of pain or pain recurrence. For example, in today’s remote work environment, provide members with information about the ergonomics of their home office, how to maintain healthy posture, and how to incorporate movement and stretching into their work-from-home routine.

Promote online resources that include general education about back pain, expert-led worksite and online fitness classes, and tips on managing mental health and reducing stress as a way to prevent musculoskeletal injuries or as support during the active recovery phase. Key educational topics for plan members should include:

Pain management strategies for musculoskeletal health;

Movement, exercise, and physical therapy;

Musculoskeletal health and mental health;

How and why pain spreads; and

Managing mechanical body pain.

Provide guidance for active recovery and movement

In the event of injury, stress the importance of movement to overall health, as well as to active recovery. While understandable, the tendency to rest in bed after experiencing musculoskeletal injury is often the wrong tactic. Instead, healthcare practitioners suggest light activity, such as walking, swimming, yoga, cycling, or stretching to increase blood flow and promote healing (with the caution to stop activities that increase pain).Educate members about using ice and heat if they overdo their exercise, as cold temperatures can reduce inflammation and swelling, while heat can help relax muscles.

The best way to reduce musculoskeletal claims is to avoid them altogether. With that in mind, encourage members to take preventive steps to reduce the potential for back pain and injuries, such as regular activities that keep back muscles strong. Tai chi and yoga, or similar weight-bearing exercises that challenge balance, are good classes to try. Exercises that increase balance and strength can decrease the risk of falls and a wide variety of musculoskeletal injuries.

Health plans can also provide fitness instruction that is easily accessible, convenient, and professionally guided. The availability of 24/7 expert-led online classes about topics like exercise and weight management, safe lifting techniques, flexibility and stretching, diet and nutrition, and more can help employees safeguard their musculoskeletal health.

Virtually every adult will experience low back pain at some point in their lives, and many will also face other MSK issues. By promoting early and ongoing communication, along with education, health plans can help members prevent injuries or guide them toward conservative care when pain does occur. Offering easily accessible health and wellness resources — covering topics like stretching, exercise, weight management, nutrition, mindfulness, relaxation, and pain management — can further enhance member outcomes and reduce reliance on high-cost treatments. By embracing these proactive and non-invasive approaches, health plans can significantly reduce costs while improving member health outcomes and satisfaction in the long term.

Mark Kingsriter is the fitness director for Wellbeats Wellness, a product of LifeSpeak Inc.