Nursing interventions for people with musculoskeletal injuries during physical activity: A scoping review

Physical inactivity is a major public health concern, with Portugal ranking among the European countries with the lowest levels of regular physical activity. Poorly managed physical activity is associated with a high incidence of musculoskeletal injuries, increasing the need for effective nursing interventions focused on prevention, rehabilitation, and safe return to activity. In orthopedic and trauma care, nurses play a key role in clinical assessment, patient education, functional recovery, and interdisciplinary coordination; however, nursing-specific interventions in this area remain insufficiently mapped.

To map the scientific literature on nursing interventions for individuals with musculoskeletal injuries related to physical activity.

A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, guided by the PCC framework: Population (individuals with musculoskeletal injuries), Concept (nursing interventions), and Context (physical activity). Searches were performed in MEDLINE Ultimate, CINAHL Ultimate, SPORTDiscus, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and Scopus, complemented by grey literature. Studies published in English, Portuguese, Spanish, or French were included. Study selection and data extraction were conducted independently by two reviewers, following PRISMA 2021 guidelines.

36 studies were included. Most originated from the United States and Europe, and were situated within medicine, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation sciences. Nursing-relevant interventions included comprehensive clinical assessment, pain management, health education, psychosocial support, multidisciplinary rehabilitation coordination, therapeutic exercise guidance, balance and proprioception training, activity modification, and reinjury prevention.

The evidence highlights multiple nursing interventions applicable to musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation of individuals with physical activity, reinforcing the importance of nurses within orthopedic and trauma care.