Conquer MSK Pain Sooner: Early Assessment & Expert Care

Indication Criteria for Referrals

Patients are eligible for referral to the ArthurCare MSK Early Assessment Program if they meet ALL of the following criteria:

1. Presentation:

Presents with a musculoskeletal (MSK) complaint, including but not limited to:

• Joint pain (e.g., knee, shoulder, hip, ankle)
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Muscle pain or strains
• Tendinitis or tendinopathy
• Bursitis
• Overuse injuries
• Non-specific MSK pain
• Post-traumatic pain (excluding fractures)

2. Condition:

• Diagnosed with or suspected of having a soft tissue injury OR
• Experiencing MSK pain that does NOT require emergency or surgical management

3. Exclusion Criteria:

• Requires immediate emergency medical attention
• Diagnosed with a fracture
• Requires or has undergone recent surgical management for the MSK condition
• Presents with a primary complaint that is non-MSK in nature (e.g., cardiac, respiratory, neurological)
• Back pain with “red flags” suggesting serious underlying conditions (e.g., cauda equina syndrome, spinal cord compression, cancer)

4. Additional Considerations:

• Patients should be medically stable and able to participate in physical therapy and self-management programs.
• Patients should have a willingness to actively engage in their recovery process.