Consensus on the Use of Therapeutic Interventions in Pain Management, Recovery, and Athletic Performance: A Delphi Study.
Bailey McLagan, Kyle Silvey, Timothy Roberts and 3 others
PMID 40041533WHAT IT FOUND
Experts did not reach consensus on when to use cold, heat, percussion, vibration, or infrared.
They reported considering these tools based heavily on patient presentation, with location of work and training influencing which modalities they had access to and preferred.
Key findings
01No therapeutic intervention reached the 70% agreement threshold for consensus on use.
02Percussive therapy applied directly to a joint was overwhelmingly agreed to be rarely used for acute joint pain.
03Clinicians in sports facilities considered percussive and infrared therapies more often than those in hospitals.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The sample lacked diversity, with over 85% identifying as white, non-Hispanic, and male. Attrition was high, with only 32 of the initial 74 respondents completing the final round. The definition of 'consensus' was shifted to 'consideration' after no agreement was found, which may dilute the strength of the findings. The study did not measure patient outcomes, only clinician preferences and habits.
Declared interests
Two authors are employed by Therabody Inc., a company that manufactures percussive therapy devices. Other authors accepted honorariums. The paper acknowledges that Therabody produces devices using the interventions studied.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high percentages of 'consideration' as evidence that these interventions are effective or recommended. The study found no consensus on efficacy, and the results describe clinician habits and access issues, not clinical outcomes.