DESCRIPTION: Generic prognostic factors may assist primary care practitioners to identify those patients with musculoskeletal pain who are at risk of poor outcomes, regardless of the site of their pain.

 Take Home Messages: Musculoskeletal pain problems affecting different parts of the body sites share similar underlying features and clinical courses.  In the primary care setting, common factors including specific pain characteristics at consultation, psychosocial factors and increased levels of disability can assist in identifying those patients with musculoskeletal pain who are at risk of a poor outcome, irrespective of the spe...