ABSTRACT
There are six major surveys that have estimated the magnitude of the musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the general U.S. population: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1976 to 1988, the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey of 1989, the National Health Interview Surveys of 1988 and 1995, the Health and Retirement Survey from 1992 to 1994, and the Social Security Supplemental Security Income survey of 1998. Unfortunately, all of these are based on individual self-reports and not on medical diagnosis and none identify the work-relatedness aspect, if any, of these disorders. Given that the vast majority of adults are in the active workforce, there would be dif£culty in £nding comprehensive data on an occupationally unexposed group, which, by de£nition, would be unrepresentative of the U.S. adult population.
