The CMSG exists to facilitate development of subgroups tackling each of the separate areas of musculoskeletal disease. The following topic list includes areas of all musculoskeletal conditions included under the CMSG scope: gout, lupus erythematosus, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, pediatric rheumatology, rheumatoid arthritis, soft tissue conditions [fibromyalgia, upper limb conditions, lower limb conditions], spondylo-arthropathy, systemic sclerosis and vasculitis.

In topics where no Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) or Controlled Clinical Trials (CCTs) have been identified, systematic reviews may be produced using observational data. The CMSG includes surrogate outcomes where other outcomes are not available. This is the case for bone mineral density, where fracture outcomes are not available in a majority of the studies.