Musculoskeletal medicine is undertaken by an

Orthopaedic Surgeon

or

Orthopedist

and concerns the diagnosis and treatment of dysfunction, diseases and disorders of the

musculoskeletal system

. This includes bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage and other connective tissue. Musculoskeletal disorders are very common, and people usually suffer pain and disability as a result of injury or dysfunction affecting the spine, pelvic or shoulder girdle, or to the upper and lower limbs. These may have occurred as a result of injury or of a gradual onset condition, such as osteoarthritis. There is a wide variety of treatments, including medication, pain management, exercise and rehabilitation programmes, education and support.