The DCRI's Musculoskeletal research team conducts innovative clinical research in an effort to transform musculoskeletal practice and improve patient outcomes.
Finding Better Ways to Treat Pain
Musculoskeletal disorders are common and interfere with patients' ability to perform critical tasks of daily life. Because of this, musculoskeletal disorders are a major determinant of health for both individuals and populations.
Despite the significant financial costs and health implications of musculoskeletal disease, there is little clinical research identifying population needs and trends and comparing outcomes of different treatment approaches.
The DCRI's Musculoskeletal group is a multidisciplinary research team working toward discoveries to reduce the impact of musculoskeletal pain on health, physical function, and quality of life.
Our Work Involves
- Predicting and preventing the transition from acute to chronic musculoskeletal pain
- Establishing optimal care pathways for common operative and non-operative musculoskeletal conditions
- Determining the efficacy and effectiveness of non-pharmacological treatments
- Identifying age-specific mechanisms of chronic pain and physical function decline
- Understanding and improving the healthcare provider’s role in patient management
Personalizing Pain Management
Steven George, PT, PhD, director of DCRI Musculoskeletal Research, says there is a desperate need for nonpharmacological and noninvasive pain relief solutions, specifically when it comes to musculoskeletal pain. This need is highlighted daily in mainstream news as the opioid addiction and overdose epidemic continues unabated. This epidemic has garnered attention from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which now recommends nonpharmacological options as a frontline alternative for chronic pain.
Watch the video above as George discusses factors that should be taken into account while treating musculoskeletal pain and the importance of creating individualized, effective treatment plans that will result in less opioid use.
Faculty Leadership
Ready to Innovate Musculoskeletal Medicine?
Whether you're developing non-pharmacological pain interventions, establishing optimal care pathways for musculoskeletal conditions, or conducting trials to address the chronic pain epidemic, we're ready to discuss how our multidisciplinary expertise and proven capabilities can advance your research goals.