Musculoskeletal system
Bones, joints & muscles: medicines & conditions
The musculoskeletal system — bones, joints and muscles — gives the body its structure and movement. Its medicines reduce pain and inflammation, protect bone strength, and in inflammatory arthritis calm the immune attack on the joints.
Education and reference only. This hub explains which medicines relate to the bones, joints & muscles and why — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.
About the bones, joints & muscles
Treatment here ranges from simple pain relief and topical or oral anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) to bone-protecting drugs for osteoporosis, urate-lowering treatment for gout, and disease-modifying and biologic drugs that change the course of rheumatoid arthritis. NSAIDs are effective but carry stomach, heart and kidney cautions, so they are used thoughtfully; bone and immune treatments need their own monitoring. The recurring themes are using anti-inflammatories at the lowest effective level for the shortest sensible time, taking bone-protection and gout treatment consistently to prevent future harm, and the regular monitoring that disease-modifying drugs require.
What this covers
- Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoporosis and bone strength
- Gout
- Pain and inflammation of joints and muscles
Conditions in this area
Bones, joints & muscles conditions (103)
Each links to a dose-free guide showing which medicine classes are used and how treatment is approached.
Musculoskeletal Achilles tendinopathy Pain and stiffness of the Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle, usually from overuse — which improves with rest, loa… Musculoskeletal ACL injury A tear of a key stabilising ligament in the knee, common in sport, causing instability — managed with rehabilitation and… Musculoskeletal Adult-onset Still's disease A rare inflammatory condition causing spiking fevers, a salmon-coloured rash and joint pain — treatable with medicines t… Musculoskeletal Ankylosing spondylitis (axial spondyloarthritis) An inflammatory arthritis that mainly affects the spine and the joints at the base of the back, causing gradual-onset ba… Musculoskeletal Baker's cyst A fluid-filled swelling behind the knee, usually caused by another knee problem such as arthritis — often harmless and s… Musculoskeletal Behçet's disease A rare condition causing inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body, with recurrent mouth and genital ulcers, eye… Musculoskeletal Bone cancer A rare cancer that starts in the bone, causing persistent bone pain, swelling or a lump — where persistent or unexplaine… Musculoskeletal Bone cyst A fluid-filled cavity within a bone, usually harmless and often found by chance, mainly in children and young people — w… Musculoskeletal Bone spurs (osteophytes) Small bony growths that form on bones, often near joints as part of ageing or arthritis — usually harmless and painless,… Musculoskeletal Broken ankle A break in one or more of the bones that form the ankle joint, usually from a fall or twist — needing assessment and, de… Musculoskeletal Broken arm or wrist A break in one of the bones of the arm or wrist, usually from a fall onto an outstretched hand — needing assessment and,… Musculoskeletal Broken collarbone A common break of the bone between the shoulder and breastbone, usually from a fall or sports injury — most healing well… Musculoskeletal Broken finger or thumb A break in one of the small bones of a finger or thumb, usually from a blow, crush or fall — needing assessment, with ma… Musculoskeletal Broken hip A serious break near the top of the thigh bone, most common in older people after a fall — needing urgent hospital care … Musculoskeletal Broken leg A break in one of the leg bones, usually from a significant injury — needing assessment and, depending on the break, a c… Musculoskeletal Broken or bruised ribs A common, painful chest injury usually from a blow or fall, which typically heals on its own over weeks — where good pai… Musculoskeletal Broken toe A common, usually minor break of a toe bone, often from stubbing or dropping something on the foot — which usually heals… Musculoskeletal Bunions A bony bump at the base of the big toe where it drifts towards the other toes — common and often harmless, but sometimes… Musculoskeletal Bursitis Inflammation of a bursa — one of the small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the points where tendons, muscles and skin gl… Musculoskeletal Calcific tendinitis A build-up of calcium in a tendon, most often in the shoulder, which can cause sudden severe pain — often settling on it… Musculoskeletal Carpal tunnel syndrome Compression of the median nerve at the wrist, causing tingling, numbness and pain in the thumb and fingers that is often… Musculoskeletal Cervical spondylosis Common age-related "wear and tear" of the neck spine, often causing neck pain and stiffness — usually manageable with ex… Musculoskeletal Club foot A common condition where a baby is born with a foot turned inwards and downwards — very treatable, usually without major… Musculoskeletal Clubfoot A common condition where a baby is born with a foot (or feet) turned inward and downward — which is very treatable, usua… Musculoskeletal Compartment syndrome A painful condition where pressure builds up within a muscle compartment — the acute form is a medical emergency needing… Musculoskeletal Costochondritis Inflammation of the cartilage joining the ribs to the breastbone, causing chest wall pain that is worse with movement an… Musculoskeletal De Quervain's tenosynovitis Painful inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, often from repetitive use — usually improving with r… Musculoskeletal Dermatomyositis A rare autoimmune condition causing muscle weakness and a distinctive skin rash — treatable with medicines that calm the… Musculoskeletal Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) A condition where a baby's hip joint has not formed properly — usually painless and detected by screening, and very trea… Musculoskeletal Dislocated kneecap When the kneecap slips out of place, usually sideways, often during a twist or sports injury — needing assessment and re… Musculoskeletal Dislocated shoulder When the upper arm bone pops out of the shoulder joint, usually from a fall or sports injury — needing prompt relocation… Musculoskeletal Dupuytren's contracture A condition where the tissue under the skin of the palm thickens and tightens, gradually pulling one or more fingers int… Musculoskeletal Familial Mediterranean fever An inherited condition causing recurring attacks of fever and inflammation (often of the tummy, chest or joints) — well … Musculoskeletal Fibromyalgia A long-term condition causing widespread body pain, marked fatigue and poor sleep, where the most effective care is main… Musculoskeletal Flat feet When the feet have low or no arches so the soles touch the ground — very common, usually harmless and painless, with sup… Musculoskeletal Frozen shoulder A condition where the shoulder becomes painful and then stiff over many months, with limited movement — usually self-lim… Musculoskeletal Ganglion cyst A harmless, fluid-filled lump near a joint or tendon, most often on the wrist or hand — which often needs no treatment a… Musculoskeletal Giant cell arteritis Inflammation of medium and large arteries, especially around the head, that can threaten sight — a medical urgency treat… Musculoskeletal Golfer's elbow Pain on the inner side of the elbow from overusing the forearm tendons — the inner-elbow counterpart of tennis elbow, an… Musculoskeletal Gout A form of arthritis caused by urate crystals forming in joints, triggering sudden, intensely painful attacks — managed b… Musculoskeletal Granulomatosis with polyangiitis A rare autoimmune condition causing inflammation of blood vessels, often affecting the nose, sinuses, lungs and kidneys … Musculoskeletal Greater trochanteric pain syndrome Pain on the outer side of the hip, often from irritation of the tendons and tissues over the hip bone — usually improvin… Musculoskeletal Hallux rigidus Arthritis of the big toe joint causing pain and stiffness, especially when pushing off — managed with footwear and, in s… Musculoskeletal Hamstring injury A strain or tear of the muscles at the back of the thigh, common in sports involving sprinting — usually healing with re… Musculoskeletal Hand-arm vibration syndrome Permanent damage to the hands from prolonged use of vibrating tools, causing tingling, numbness and white fingers — prev… Musculoskeletal Iliotibial band syndrome A common overuse injury causing pain on the outer side of the knee, especially in runners and cyclists — usually improvi… Musculoskeletal Jaw clenching Clenching the jaw or teeth, often during the day and linked to stress, which can cause jaw ache, tooth wear and headache… Musculoskeletal Joint hypermobility syndrome When very flexible joints cause pain and other symptoms — where being hypermobile is common and often harmless, but when… Musculoskeletal Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) The most common type of arthritis in children, causing joint inflammation, pain and stiffness — well managed with modern… Musculoskeletal Knock knees When the knees touch but the ankles are apart, common and normal in young children — usually correcting on its own, with… Musculoskeletal Kyphosis An excessive forward curve of the upper spine, causing a rounded upper back — which ranges from mild and painless to mor… Musculoskeletal Leg cramps Sudden, painful tightening of a leg muscle, often in the calf and at night — usually harmless and brief, eased by stretc… Musculoskeletal Low back pain A very common problem that is usually non-specific and improves with staying active rather than resting — managed mainly… Musculoskeletal Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus) A long-term autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks healthy tissue, affecting the joints, skin, kidneys … Musculoskeletal Mallet finger A finger injury where the tip droops and cannot be straightened, from damage to the tendon at the fingertip — usually tr… Musculoskeletal Meniscus tear A tear of the knee's shock-absorbing cartilage, causing pain, swelling and sometimes catching or locking — many heal wit… Musculoskeletal Metatarsalgia Pain in the ball of the foot, often from overuse, footwear or foot shape — usually improving with rest, better footwear,… Musculoskeletal Mixed connective tissue disease An autoimmune condition with overlapping features of lupus, scleroderma and myositis — managed to control symptoms and p… Musculoskeletal Morton's neuroma A thickening of tissue around a nerve between the toes, causing pain, burning or a feeling of a pebble in the shoe — oft… Musculoskeletal Muscular dystrophy A group of inherited conditions causing progressive muscle weakness and wasting — managed with supportive care to mainta… Musculoskeletal Myositis A group of uncommon conditions where the immune system causes inflammation of the muscles, leading to muscle weakness an… Musculoskeletal Olecranon bursitis Swelling of the fluid-filled sac at the tip of the elbow, causing a soft lump — usually harmless and settling, but somet… Musculoskeletal Osgood-Schlatter disease A common cause of knee pain in active, growing teenagers, from strain where the tendon attaches below the kneecap — harm… Musculoskeletal Osteoarthritis The most common form of arthritis, causing joint pain and stiffness as cartilage wears — managed mainly with exercise, w… Musculoskeletal Osteomyelitis An infection of a bone, usually bacterial, causing bone pain, fever and feeling unwell — needing prompt treatment with a… Musculoskeletal Osteopenia Bone density that is lower than normal but not low enough to be osteoporosis — a sign to protect the bones through lifes… Musculoskeletal Osteoporosis A condition where bones become weaker and more fragile, raising the risk of fractures — managed by assessing fracture ri… Musculoskeletal Paget's disease of bone A condition that disrupts the normal renewal of bone, causing affected bones to become enlarged and weakened — often cau… Musculoskeletal Palindromic rheumatism A condition causing sudden, recurring attacks of joint pain and swelling that come and go completely — with joints norma… Musculoskeletal Patellofemoral pain A common cause of pain around the front of the knee and kneecap, often with activity and sitting — usually improving wit… Musculoskeletal Perthes' disease A childhood hip condition where the blood supply to the ball of the hip is temporarily reduced, causing bone changes — w… Musculoskeletal Piriformis syndrome Buttock pain, sometimes spreading down the leg, thought to arise when a deep buttock muscle irritates the nearby sciatic… Musculoskeletal Plantar fasciitis The commonest cause of heel pain — pain under the heel or arch of the foot, classically worst with the first few steps i… Musculoskeletal Polymyalgia rheumatica An inflammatory condition of older adults that causes pain and marked stiffness across the shoulders and hips — it respo… Musculoskeletal Polymyositis An autoimmune condition causing inflammation and weakness of the muscles, particularly around the hips and shoulders — m… Musculoskeletal Pseudogout A form of arthritis caused by calcium crystals in a joint, causing sudden painful, swollen joints similar to gout — trea… Musculoskeletal Psoriatic arthritis An inflammatory arthritis linked to psoriasis that affects the joints, and sometimes the spine, causing pain, swelling a… Musculoskeletal Reactive arthritis Joint inflammation triggered by an infection elsewhere in the body — usually the gut or genitals — that typically settle… Musculoskeletal Repetitive strain injury Pain and other symptoms in the muscles, tendons and nerves from repetitive movements or sustained postures — usually imp… Musculoskeletal Rheumatoid arthritis An autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the joint lining, causing pain, swelling and stiffness — control… Musculoskeletal Rickets and osteomalacia Softening and weakening of the bones, usually from a lack of vitamin D or calcium — called rickets in children and osteo… Musculoskeletal Rotator cuff tear A tear of the tendons that stabilise and move the shoulder, causing pain and weakness — many are managed with physiother… Musculoskeletal Sciatica Pain that radiates from the back down the leg along the sciatic nerve, often with tingling or numbness — usually caused … Musculoskeletal Scoliosis A sideways curve of the spine, most often appearing in children and teenagers — often mild and just monitored, with brac… Musculoskeletal Septic arthritis A serious infection inside a joint causing a hot, swollen, very painful joint with fever — a medical emergency needing u… Musculoskeletal Shin splints Pain along the shin bone from overuse, common in runners and after increasing activity — usually settling with rest and … Musculoskeletal Shoulder impingement A common cause of shoulder pain when raising the arm, from tendons being compressed in the shoulder — usually improving … Musculoskeletal Sjögren's syndrome An autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the glands that make tears and saliva, causing dry eyes and a… Musculoskeletal Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SUFE) A hip condition of older children and teenagers where the growth plate at the top of the thigh bone slips — needing prom… Musculoskeletal Soft tissue sarcoma A rare cancer of the body’s supporting soft tissues (such as muscle or fat), often appearing as a growing, painless lump… Musculoskeletal Spinal stenosis Narrowing of the spinal canal that presses on the nerves, commonly causing back and leg pain when walking — managed with… Musculoskeletal Spondylolisthesis A condition where one of the spine bones slips forward over the one below, which may cause back pain or leg symptoms — o… Musculoskeletal Systemic sclerosis An autoimmune condition causing hardening and tightening of the skin and, in some people, internal organs — managed by a… Musculoskeletal Tailbone pain Pain in the tailbone (coccyx) at the very base of the spine, often from injury or prolonged sitting — usually improving … Musculoskeletal Tendonitis Pain and irritation of a tendon, usually from overuse or repetitive strain — commonly affecting the shoulder, elbow, wri… Musculoskeletal Tennis elbow Pain on the outer side of the elbow from overuse of the forearm tendons — common, usually not from tennis, and generally… Musculoskeletal Thoracic outlet syndrome Compression of nerves or blood vessels in the space between the collarbone and first rib, causing arm and hand symptoms … Musculoskeletal TMJ disorder A common cause of jaw pain, clicking and difficulty with jaw movement, affecting the jaw joint and muscles — usually imp… Musculoskeletal Torticollis A tilted or twisted neck position, which in babies is often from a tight neck muscle (usually improving with exercises),… Musculoskeletal Trigger finger A finger or thumb that catches, clicks or locks when bent, because a tendon cannot glide smoothly — often improving with… Musculoskeletal Upper and mid back pain Pain in the upper or middle back, often from muscle or joint strain and posture — usually not serious, though certain fe… Musculoskeletal Vasculitis A group of conditions in which blood vessels become inflamed, which can affect the skin, joints and internal organs — tr… Musculoskeletal Whiplash A neck injury from a sudden, forceful back-and-forth movement of the head, often in car accidents — usually improving wi…
Medicine classes
Medicines for the bones, joints & muscles (19)
Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.
Allopurinol Bone & metabolism The first-line drug to prevent gout attacks by lowering uric acid.… Anti-TNF biologics Rheumatology Injectable "biologic" drugs that calm severe inflammatory disease by blocking a key inflammatory signal.… Azathioprine Rheumatology A long-term immune-suppressing drug for autoimmune disease and transplantation.… Bisphosphonates Bone & metabolism First-line drugs to strengthen bone and reduce fracture risk in osteoporosis.… Calcineurin inhibitors Rheumatology Powerful immunosuppressants that prevent transplant rejection and treat severe immune conditions — closely mon… Calcium supplements Bone & metabolism Support bone health and correct calcium shortfall — often paired with vitamin D.… Colchicine Bone & metabolism An anti-inflammatory for gout flares and some other conditions — effective but easy to overdose.… Denosumab Bone & metabolism A twice-yearly injection for osteoporosis — with a crucial "don't miss or stop without cover" rule.… Hydroxychloroquine Rheumatology A well-tolerated long-term drug for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.… JAK inhibitors Rheumatology Targeted oral drugs for inflammatory disease — convenient, but with specific cardiovascular and cancer caution… Methotrexate Rheumatology A weekly immune-modifying drug for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and more — safe when the rules are followed… Mycophenolate Rheumatology An immunosuppressant used after transplantation and in autoimmune disease — with strict pregnancy-prevention r… NSAIDs Pain & inflammation Common anti-inflammatory painkillers with important gastrointestinal, renal and cardiovascular cautions.… Raloxifene Bone & metabolism A bone-protecting drug for post-menopausal osteoporosis, with a breast-risk benefit but a clot caution.… Rituximab Rheumatology A targeted "biologic" that depletes B-cells — used in some cancers and autoimmune diseases.… Teriparatide Bone & metabolism A daily injection that builds new bone in severe osteoporosis — used for a limited period.… Thiamine (vitamin B1) Bone & metabolism Replaces vitamin B1 to prevent and treat a serious, potentially irreversible brain disorder.… Topical NSAIDs Pain & inflammation Rub-on anti-inflammatory gels for localised joint and muscle pain — effective with far less whole-body risk.… Vitamin D Bone & metabolism Corrects deficiency and supports bone health — widely used and generally very safe.…
By active ingredient
Common bones, joints & muscles medicines by name
Individual, dose-free guides to specific active ingredients (and their brands) in this area:
Clinical formulas & tools
Calculators used in this area
Risk scores and formulas that inform assessment and treatment decisions for the bones, joints & muscles:
Answers
Bones, joints & muscles: frequently asked questions
What medicines are used for the bones, joints & muscles?
This system includes 19 medicine classes — such as allopurinol, anti-tnf biologics, azathioprine, bisphosphonates. Each links to a full, dose-free guide covering what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects and interactions.
Which conditions affect the bones, joints & muscles?
Common conditions in this area include Achilles tendinopathy, ACL injury, Adult-onset Still's disease, Ankylosing spondylitis (axial spondyloarthritis), Baker's cyst and more. Each condition page shows the medicine classes used to treat it and why.
Do these pages give doses?
No. Every page on this site is dose-free. We explain which medicines are used and why, but doses depend on the individual and the exact product — always confirm with your prescriber, the BNF and the product labelling.
Is this a substitute for medical advice?
No — it is education and reference only. It helps you understand this body system and its treatments, but decisions about your own care should always be made with a qualified clinician.
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