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Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain and arthritis are universal problems but pain is difficult to measure. In 1981 the ILAR and the World Health Organization (WHO) together launched the WHO ILAR Community Oriented Programme for Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) to fill the gap in the lack of data about MSK pain and arthritis in developing countries. COPCORD is a low-cost, low-infrastructure programme based on regional resources. Using a fairly uniform approach and validated methods, the COPCORD stage I survey (three phases) was completed in Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chili, China, Cuba, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Thailand, Tunisia and Vietnam [1 6]. Details about the survey methods, countrywise results and publications are available on COPCORD’s website [7]. A representative convenient population sample (>1500) was recommended for each country. The emphasis was on a non-migrant population and areas with reasonably fair access to infrastructure and logistical support. Although not essential, several surveys used a randomized technique (Table 1). The population was screened (phase 1) in a house-to-house cross-sectional survey to identify respondents with current (past 7 days) or past pain, or both, and tenderness, swelling or stiffness in bones, muscles and joints, or all three. Pain and other relevant information were recorded in phase 2 and pain sites often shown on a human mannequin. Standard rheumatology examination was recorded in phase 3. A fast-track model [3] was introduced by Bhigwan (India), which essentially completed all three phases in parallel and reduced the survey period and cost: 7000 villagers were surveyed (>80% response) in about 5 weeks. Limited COPCORD stages II (risk factors, incidence cases and health education) and III (improved health care through preventive and control strategy) were completed by few countries [1]. Although COPCORD survey questionnaires (CPD-Q) were customized for regional use, the core questions were mostly unchanged. Local translations and adaptations were validated a priori in pilot studies (using controls). Recently [6] the CPD-Q was reported to be a robust case detection tool (rheumatic diseases) to identify early rheumatology referral cases and thereby reduce the burden on specialist services [8]. The point prevalence rates of MSK pain or symptoms in adults are shown in Fig. 1. Very few COPCORD surveys included children (<16 years of age). The India survey established that MSK pain was the most common selfreported illness and that almost two-thirds of cases were likely to suffer from non-specific MSK pains, arthralgias (NSA), soft tissue rheumatism (STR) or all three, onethird with degenerative arthritis (OA) and less than onetenth of cases suffered from inflammatory arthritis [3]. The back and knees were found to be the most frequent pain sites (Table 1). Bhigwan (India) also introduced the use of a modified validated HAQ in COPCORD and demonstrated that 14% of NSA and 11% of STR cases also suffered from a moderately severe (51.2 out of a maximum score of 3) HAQ disability score compared with 37% of RA and 23% of OA cases [9]. Several surveys have highlighted the burden and neglect of NSA and STR both by the community and the medical profession. COPCORD India speculated about a causal link between NSA/STR and lifestyle (e.g. prolonged squatting leading to pain in the lower limb joint) and occupational misuse [3]. Forty-three per cent of patients with chronic pain in the upper limbs in COPCORD Mexico remained unclassifiable [4, 6], while 20% of Indian cases and 55% of Chinese cases (Shangai) did not seek any professional medical care [1]. From a community perspective, these aches and pains are part and parcel of rheumatism. Rheumatologists usually deal with only more serious MSK disorders such as RA and lupus and have little time for mundane aches within the community. However, rheumatologists are trained and expected to manage pain effectively. Therefore, based on the COPCORD experience, it seems prudent for rheumatologists to address this subject and provide better evaluation algorithms and referral guidelines even for non-serious MSK disorders. Interactions would be required with general practitioners and other stakeholders for interdisciplinary strategies. Table 1 provides a summary of the selected COPCORD surveys that shows approximate national prevalence [1 7]. Comparisons between surveys may be confounded by methodological differences, but the data present an overall picture of the spectrum and burden between countries. Mexico, with an intriguing ethnic mix, showed a high RA prevalence and may well be the RA capital of the world [4]. A high rural prevalence of RA (ACR 1987 criteria), and particularly in young women [10], was reported from Bhigwan. Undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis, PsA and infective arthritis were uncommon. Several surveys in China and Latin America identified lupus and other