Why MSK is the Next Healthcare Battleground

The Battle for MSK Care Is Already Underway

Musculoskeletal care is quietly becoming one of the most important battlegrounds in healthcare. MSK conditions affect over 120 million Americans, account for roughly $420 billion in annual healthcare spending, and remain the leading cause of disability worldwide. And because of that, nearly every major stakeholder in healthcare is moving into this space.

Digital health companies.
Employers.
Payers.
Orthopedic groups.
Health systems.
Wearable tech companies.

They’re all competing for one thing:
Control of the musculoskeletal patient relationship.
Because whoever controls the entry point into MSK care often controls everything that follows—from imaging and therapy to injections, surgery, and long-term outcomes.

In this episode, we take a step back and look at what’s really happening in the MSK space—and why this moment represents more than just innovation. It represents a fundamental shift in how care is delivered.

What we cover in this Episode:
-Why Musculoskeletal Care Has Become a $420B Healthcare Category
MSK is one of the largest drivers of healthcare spending, disability, and lost productivity in the United States.
-Why the Current MSK System Is So Fragmented
How disconnected care pathways create inefficiencies—and opportunities for disruption.
-The 4 Competing Models of MSK Care
Procedure-centric, therapy-centric, digital-first, and hybrid care models—and how they’re competing for control of the patient journey.
-Why Policy and Payment Models Are Beginning to Shift
How CMS initiatives like the ACCESS model and the expansion of RTM are beginning to support more coordinated, longitudinal care.
-Why Technology Alone Won’t Solve the Problem
The role of clinicians in guiding movement, behavior change, and long-term capacity building.
-Why the Future of MSK Care Will Likely Be Hybrid
How digital tools and clinical expertise are coming together to reshape care delivery.

Episode Highlight: “The future of MSK care won’t be defined by technology alone. It will be defined by who owns the care pathway for those patients.”

Full episode note: https://rehabupracticesolutions.com/better-outcomes-166

Podcast: https://www.betteroutcomes.show
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