Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Health: A Review of the Literature and Clinical Application.
Kyle Kiesel, Kyle Matsel, Garrett Bullock and 2 others
PMID 39371193WHAT IT FOUND
This review proposes screening for multiple musculoskeletal risk factors, such as previous injury, poor balance, and high BMI, during rehabilitation.
It suggests that addressing these factors together, rather than focusing only on local pain, may better prepare patients for physical activity and reduce future injury risk.
Key findings
01The review identifies specific modifiable risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders and injury, including asymmetrical ankle dorsiflexion, high body mass index, decreased cardiovascular fitness, impaired dynamic balance, and previous time-loss injury.
02The authors propose a clinical model where rehabilitation includes a standardized screening process for these risk factors to create a comprehensive plan of care, rather than treating only the current symptoms or diagnosis.
03Evidence cited in the review suggests that combining manual therapy and therapeutic exercise can significantly reduce the number of risk factors present in patients during rehabilitation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
This is a narrative review, not a systematic review or meta-analysis, so the selection of studies and risk factors may be subject to author bias. The proposed clinical model is not tested in this paper; the authors propose it based on existing literature but do not present new evidence that the model itself improves patient outcomes. The authors declare financial relationships with Functional Movement Systems, a company that sells the screening tools (FMS/SFMA) recommended in the paper, which may influence the emphasis on specific assessments.
Declared interests
Dr. Kiesel and Dr. Plisky own stock in Functional Movement Systems. Dr. Arnold is a compensated instructor for the same company. This is significant because the paper recommends using their specific screening tools.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this paper provides evidence that the proposed screening model improves patient outcomes. It is a narrative review proposing a clinical approach based on existing risk factor literature, not a trial testing the model itself.