New avenues in research on musculoskeletal disorders

Recent reviews on musculoskeletal disorders have clearly pointed out the ne ed for more good-quality original research. Both symptom-based and objectiv e outcome assessment methods should be improved. A variety of methods exist s to assess exposure for short-term, outcomes, whereas exposure assessment strategies for outcomes with long induction times should be developed. The change in exposure patterns - less force demands, more static, visual, cogn itive, psychological and social load - will continue during the next millen nium, and a likely result is a change in the disease panorama. The pathomec hanisms of the effects of low-level static contractions and adverse psychos ocial conditions need clarification. Genetic epidemiology is an emerging fi eld of research, and it will be particularly interesting to study the inter action between genetically determined susceptibility and occupational risk factors. Because degeneration of the spine starts in adolescence, the impor tance of studying the etiology of degenerative disorders among young popula tions is emphasized.