P-069 - (Poster #69) Licensed Physical Therapists’ Perceptions on the Treatment of Minor Aches and Pains of Muscles and Joints: Insights from a US National Survey

Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain contributes to disability globally, encompassing common conditions such as muscle and joint pain significantly affecting quality of life among the general population. Nearly three in five adults (58.9%) in United States (US) reported experiencing some form of pain. Among them, 39% experienced back pain, 36.5% lower limb pain, and 30.7% upper limb pain. These conditions are frequently managed by physical therapists, among other healthcare professionals (HCPs).

First-line management of MSK pain typically involves non-pharmacological interventions such as exercise, manual therapy, heat, massage, and psychosocial support. Additional treatment includes complementary multi-modal approaches and pharmacological interventions like oral and topical analgesics. Furthermore, movement and physical activity known as active recovery, also play a key role in managing MSK pain by helping reduce duration and prevent acute pain from becoming chronic. However, there is a need to explore how movement in active recovery, can help in alleviating MSK pain and its integration with other interventions for a holistic approach.

Purpose/Objectives: This study aims to identify and highlight the perceptions of physical therapists who manage minor aches and pains of muscles and joints.

Methods:

A double-blinded survey was administered online to licensed physical therapists across the US, who recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) topical analgesic product for the acute recovery of minor aches and pains of muscles and joints to any of their patients. An email was sent to HCPs in the Dynata panel, of whom, 611 accessed the survey and answered the screening questions. Among these, 301 respondents met the eligibility criteria and completed the survey. These participants were well-distributed across all US Census regions, contributing to a geographically diverse and representative sample. The interviews were conducted from April 23, 2025 to May 6, 2025.

The questionnaire consisted of a series of questions regarding physical therapists’ perceptions on the use and recommendation of movement, analgesics, and the ‘Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation’ (RICE) vs. ‘Movement, Exercise, Analgesics, Therapy’ (MEAT) to their patients. Additionally, they were asked about their recommendations on the use of ice and heat therapy. The survey wording and scale provided for agreement statements included: “Strongly agree”, “Somewhat agree”, “Neither agree nor disagree”, “Somewhat disagree”, and “Strongly disagree”, with respondents instructed to select one response per statement question.

Results:

The survey results revealed that physical therapists (N = 301) showed a strong endorsement in overall questions about movement as a factor in managing and recovering from minor aches and pains. Almost all physical therapists (99.3% [strongly agree, 93%; somewhat agree, 6.3%]; error range, ± 3.4% per 90% respondents) agreed that movement is important to decrease recovery time from minor aches and pains of muscles and joints.

Physical therapists widely recognized the role of OTC topical analgesics, with 95.7% ([strongly agree, 39.2%; somewhat agree, 56.5%]; ± 3.4% per 90% respondents) agreeing on helping individuals remain more active. Although most physical therapists (71.4% [strongly agree, 22.3%; somewhat agree, 49.2%]; ± 5.6% per majority respondents) also agreed that the OTC topical analgesics contribute to faster recovery, 22.3% of respondents neither agreed nor disagreed, indicating a potential gap in understanding or confidence regarding the efficacy of these therapies.

The respondents were also asked whether they recommend ice and heat therapy for relief from minor aches and pain, and a strong consensus emerged, with 98% (± 3.4% per 90% respondents) indicating its recommendation, with most (97% [strongly agree, 57.1%; somewhat agree, 39.9%]; ± 3.4% per 90% respondents) reaffirming its effectiveness. A total of 83.7% of respondents (± 5.6% per majority respondents) preferred recommending ‘Movement, Exercise, Analgesics, Therapy’ (MEAT) over Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (RICE [7.6%]).

Conclusions/Implications for future research and/or clinical care:

Physical therapists widely recognized the supportive role of OTC topical analgesics in helping individuals manage pain, remain more active, and reduce recovery time. However, there is still scope for understanding the benefits and mechanisms of action of these topical products. When complementing the benefits of analgesics with exercise approach, a particular emphasis on movement is established. Movement keeps individuals actively engaged in everyday activities, while analgesics alleviate pain, enabling increased mobility, which in turn leads to pain reduction and encourages further movement. This ‘virtuous cycle’ of active recovery, aided by topical analgesics, benefits patient outcomes as suggested by the results. Additionally, the study also reaffirms the continued role of ice and heat therapy in managing minor aches and pains.

The key findings of the study indicate that the wide recommendation of OTC topical analgesics, when combined with active recovery and ice and heat therapy, facilitates increased movement in individuals experiencing minor aches and pains of muscles and joints. Overall, these findings highlight a movement-centered, multi-modal approach as an effective pain management strategy that promotes recovery through the body's natural self-healing mechanisms.