Musculoskeletal injury survivors' resiliency: A systematic review

Musculoskeletal traumas are on the rise in the United States; however, limited studies are available to help trauma providers assess and treat concerns beyond the physical impact. Little is understood about the psychological, social, and spiritual factors that protect patients from adverse effects after a physical trauma or their experiences with each factor afterward.

This systematic review was conducted to investigate and review advancements in research related to risk and resiliency factors experienced by survivors of traumatic musculoskeletal injuries. The use of biopsychosocial-spiritual (BPS-S) framework and resiliency theory guided the analysis.

Researchers reviewed 1003 articles, but only seven met the search criteria. Due to the complexity and uniqueness of traumatic brain injuries, studies on that target population were excluded.

Of the seven articles reviewed, three identified psychological protective factors that protect against negative health outcomes; three identified negative psychological, social, or spiritual outcomes; and none investigated social or spiritual health.

There are significant gaps in the literature surrounding risk and resiliency factors related to the BPS-S health of musculoskeletal injury survivors.