Updates in Physical Treatment of Musculoskeletal Disorders

Dear Colleagues,

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) remain one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, imposing a significant clinical and socioeconomic impact. In recent years, continuous progress in physical therapy, rehabilitation science, and technological innovation has broadened the range of available interventions. The focus has shifted beyond mere symptom management toward promoting functional recovery, optimizing movement, and improving long-term quality of life.

This Special Issue of Medicina aims to showcase cutting-edge research and clinical insights into the evolving management of MSDs. It welcomes contributions that explore manual and exercise-based therapies, multimodal and integrative approaches, and the incorporation of emerging technologies—such as robotics, virtual reality, and digital health tools—into musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Studies addressing patient-centered strategies, adherence enhancement, ergonomic education, and interdisciplinary models of care are also encouraged.

By uniting advances from physical, technological, and behavioral perspectives, this collection seeks to inform clinical practice and inspire innovation in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. The ultimate goal is to foster evidence-based, accessible, and technology-enhanced therapeutic strategies that improve patient outcomes and support the transition toward a more integrated, personalized model of care.

Call for papers:

The field of musculoskeletal medicine is evolving rapidly with the integration of multimodal and technology-enhanced therapies. In line with Medicina’s mission to publish high‑quality, clinically relevant research, this Special Issue aims to gather original articles and reviews that expand the boundaries of conventional care.

We welcome manuscripts that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Comparative trials of physical therapy techniques in musculoskeletal pathologies;
• Combined or synergistic effects of multimodal approaches (manual therapy, exercise, electrotherapy, etc.);
• Development, validation, or clinical trials of virtual reality–based rehabilitation;
• Applications of robotics, exoskeletons, or assistive devices in musculoskeletal recovery;
• Use of digital health technologies, wearable sensors, mobile apps, and tele-rehabilitation in musculoskeletal disorders;
• Biomarkers, imaging, or digital diagnostics to guide or monitor therapy;
• Barriers, feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and implementation challenges of emerging technologies in clinical settings.

Submissions should align with Medicina’s standards: clear medical relevance, rigorous methodology, and accessible English language. Manuscripts will undergo peer review in accordance with the journal’s processes. (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/medicina/instructions).

We encourage prospective authors to frame their studies in a translational or clinical context, highlighting how the integration of physical, multimodal, and technological strategies can improve patient outcomes. All types of original research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses are welcome.

Dr. Alexander Achalandabaso-Ochoa
Guest Editor

Dr. Patricia Martinez-Merinero
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Medicina is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.