Evidence based management of acute musculoskeletal pain

This document is the outcome of a multi-disciplinary review of the scientific evidence for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of acute musculoskeletal pain. The evidence is summarised in the form of a management plan and key messages that may be used to inform practice. The aim in conducting an evidence review is to facilitate the integration of the best available evidence with clinical expertise and the values and beliefs of patients.

The project was proposed and coordinated by Professor Peter Brooks, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Queensland. The guideline development process was overseen by a national steering committee and undertaken by multi-disciplinary review groups. Funding for the project was received from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.

The evidence review was conducted according to standards outlined by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (1999a) and in accordance with ideas expressed by the pioneer of evidence-based medicine, Dr Archie Cochrane (1977). Cochrane proposed the rationalisation of interventions (both diagnostic and therapeutic) to promote those with evidence of safety and effectiveness. To that end he suggested: promoting diagnostic tests likely to have a beneficial effect on prognosis, evaluating existing interventions to exclude those shown to be ineffective or dangerous, and determining the place of interventions when there is insufficient evidence of benefit.