Teaching Musculoskeletal Medicine

Abstract

The scientific bases of musculoskeletal medicine have been discussed in Chapter 2. Their importance lies chiefly in their being thoroughly understood, including understanding how little we really know, and how we may best safely overcome our shortage of proven facts. Unfortunately for the patient, in spite of the compelling arguments in favour of the subject being regarded as wholly orthodox, and in spite of the fact that it so commonly presents in general practice, provision of suitable teaching facilities remains scant. I am aware of only one university in the United Kingdom where it appears, optionally, in the undergraduate curriculum — the University of Newcastle. I know of only two universities where it is an optional extra in postgraduate teaching of primary care rheumatology — the University of Bath, in collaboration with the Primary Care Rheumatology Society, and the University of Southampton, in association with the British Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine. Many doctors and patients must regard this dearth of courses as unsatisfactory.