5 For Monday
You made it! It’s that awkward time between Christmas and New year here in the UK so plenty of time for a read and digest of some MSK goodness:
1 – Effects of Tai Chi combined with intermediate frequency therapy on chronic nonspecific neck pain
A newly published randomized controlled trial examined whether adding Tai Chi to intermediate frequency therapy improves outcomes in adults with chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNSNP). Participants receiving the combined intervention had greater improvements in pain (VAS), neck disability (NDI), cervical spinal curvature, and range of motion compared with intermediate frequency therapy alone. This suggests that mind-body, movement-based modalities can augment conventional physical interventions in persistent neck pain populations.
Key take-home points:
- Integrating Tai Chi with conventional physiotherapy may enhance pain reduction, functional mobility and cervical posture in CNSNP.
- This supports using low-impact, movement-based practices as structured therapeutic adjuncts within comprehensive MSK programmes.
2 – The effect of physical exercise on non-oncological chronic musculoskeletal pain and associated biomarkers: systematic review
A 2025 systematic review of randomized controlled trials explored how physical exercise affects chronic musculoskeletal pain and related biomarkers. While exercise consistently reduced self-reported pain, clear correlations with specific biomarkers were less consistent. However, associations emerged for certain inflammatory and brain-related markers, offering insights into potential mechanisms of exercise-induced analgesia.
Key take-home points:
- Exercise remains a cornerstone intervention for chronic MSK pain, with measurable improvements in pain but mixed biomarker evidence.
- Tracking inflammatory and neural biomarkers may offer future opportunities to understand individual treatment responses and tailor exercise prescriptions.
3 – Effectiveness of digital physiotherapy interventions on physical function in musculoskeletal disorders
This recent analysis (2025) found that individualised digital physiotherapy — incorporating tailored exercise programmes — produced significant improvements in physical function for people with MSK disorders compared to usual care. The effect size was modest but consistent and supports the clinical viability of digital delivery alongside in-clinic care.
Key take-home points:
- Digital exercise programmes can meaningfully improve function and may increase access and adherence in MSK populations.
- Clinicians should consider digital delivery as part of blended care models, particularly for scalable long-term management.
4 – Association between objectively measured physical activity and risk of developing neck pain
A large observational study (2025) found that higher levels of objectively measured physical activity were associated with a lower risk of developing neck pain in adults. This reinforces physical activity’s preventive role in MSK conditions and underscores the importance of active lifestyles alongside targeted therapeutic interventions.
Key take-home points:
- Encouraging greater overall physical activity may reduce incidence of neck pain — a key insight for community-level MSK prevention.
- Data support embedding activity promotion alongside condition-specific rehabilitation strategies.
5 – Combined use of digital and analog physical therapy in musculoskeletal care based on claims data
A real-world study of musculoskeletal care utilisation patterns in Germany showed that hybrid models combining digital and in-person physiotherapy are associated with faster care access, higher engagement in home exercise and comparable clinical outcomes. This large claims-based analysis highlights the emerging role of hybrid models within MSK pathways.
Key take-home points:
- Hybrid (digital + analogue) care models may enhance access, engagement and continuity of rehabilitation for MSK patients.
- Advanced physios should consider these models when designing services, especially where capacity and wait-times challenge traditional pathways.