Consensus on the Use of Therapeutic Interventions in Pain Management, Recovery, and Athletic Performance: A Delphi...

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science
• Therapeutic Modalities

Background:

• Therapeutic interventions are crucial for athletic preparation, exercise recovery, and managing pain/inflammation from injuries.
• A lack of consensus exists regarding the optimal timing and application of these interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish consensus among physical therapists (PTs) and athletic trainers (ATs) on the use of percussive, vibration, infrared, heat, and cryotherapy.
• To define appropriate use cases for these modalities in athletic preparation, recovery, and pain management.

Main Methods:

• The Delphi method was employed over four survey rounds.
• Participants included licensed/certified PTs and ATs with extensive experience in athletic populations and specific modality use.

Main Results:

• Consensus (≥70% agreement) was achieved for several applications.
• Percussive therapy, vibration, and heat are recommended for preparation; cryotherapy for recovery.
• Cryotherapy is indicated for acute joint and soft tissue pain, while heat and cryotherapy are suggested for chronic joint pain.

Conclusions:

• This study provides evidence-based consensus for the application of common therapeutic interventions by PTs and ATs.
• Findings guide the management of athletic recovery, pain, and inflammation, moving beyond subjective clinical decisions.