Categorizing Treatment Mechanisms for Complementary and Integrative Musculoskeletal Interventions

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Science
• Clinical Research Methodology
• Translational Science

Background:

• Treatment mechanisms (TM) research is hindered by inconsistent terminology and varied measurement approaches.
• This ambiguity creates confusion and controversy among clinicians and researchers.
• A standardized framework is needed to advance the understanding of how treatments work.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define key terms related to treatment mechanisms.
• To propose recommended study categories based on intervention domains.
• To provide examples of TM measures within these categories.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual analysis to define TM terminology.
• Development of a categorization system for intervention domains (anatomical, psychological/cognitive, behavioral).
• Identification of physiological and functional measures within each domain.

Main Results:

• Distinction between associated TM and causal TM is proposed.
• Three interventional domains (anatomical, psychological/cognitive, behavioral) are recommended for measuring causal TM.
• TM measurement spectrum includes physiological and functional aspects within each domain.

Conclusions:

• Standardizing TM terminology, categories, and measurement approaches is crucial.
• This harmonization can reduce confusion and facilitate targeted research.
• Improved understanding of causal TM enhances insights into clinical recovery complexity.