Prevalence of the use of unconventional remedies for arthritis in a metropolitan community.

Of 1,811 individuals sampled in a metropolitan community, 382 reported having a musculoskeletal complaint. Eighty-four percent of them had used an unconventional remedy within the previous 6 months. Most individuals used inexpensive, unharmful remedies such as exercise, prayer, and relaxation. This study indicates that people with musculoskeletal disorders often use unconventional remedies, but raises questions regarding the seriousness of this problem.