Musculoskeletal system

The musculoskeletal system is the framework of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and cartilage that supports the body and makes movement possible.

Bones provide structure and store minerals, joints allow motion between bones, and skeletal muscles pull on bones through tendons to produce movement, while ligaments hold joints together and cartilage cushions their surfaces. Because the system carries mechanical load every day, it is the source of the most common pain complaints in adults, including low back pain, neck pain, joint stiffness, muscle soreness and osteoarthritis. Injury, overuse, aging, inflammation and autoimmune disease each affect it differently.

Musculoskeletal complaints are assessed by history, physical examination, range of motion and strength testing, and imaging when needed. They are also the most frequent reason consumers report using cannabinoid topicals and oral products. Research has examined cannabinoid receptors in bone, joint lining and muscle, and small clinical studies have looked at musculoskeletal pain, but the evidence remains limited and no cannabinoid has an approved use for any musculoskeletal condition.