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Cited by 25Musculoskeletal Disorders and RehabilitationMyofascial pain diagnosis and treatmentMusculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation

Profession-based manual therapy nomenclature: exploring history, limitations, and opportunities

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Degenhardt, Brian, van Dun, Patrick L.S., Jacobson, Eric, Fritz, Sandy, Mettler, Paul, Kettner, Norman, Kelley-Franklin, Gwyn, Hensel, Kendi +9 more·2024·Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy
DOI 10.1080/10669817.2023.2288495PMC PMC10795627
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The International Consortium on Manual Therapies (ICMT) is a grassroots interprofessional association open to any formally trained practitioner of manual therapy (MT) and basic scientists promoting research related to the practice of MT. Currently, MT research is impeded by professions' lack of communication with other MT professions, biases, and vernacular. Current ICMT goals are to minimize these barriers, compare MT techniques, and establish an interprofessional MT glossary. METHODS: Practitioners from all professions with training in manual therapies were encouraged by e-mail and website to participate (www.ICMTConferene.org). Video conferences were conducted at least bimonthly for 2.5 years by profession-specific and interprofessional focus groups (FGs). Members summarized scopes of practice, technique descriptions, associated mechanisms of action (MOA), and glossary terms. Each profession presented their work to the interprofessional FG to promote dialogue, understanding and consensus. Outcomes were reported and refined at numerous public events. RESULTS: Focus groups with representatives from 5 MT professions, chiropractic, massage therapy, osteopathic, physical therapy and structural integration identified 17 targeting osseous structures and 49 targeting nonosseous structures. Thirty-two techniques appeared distinct to a specific profession, and 13 were used by more than 1. Comparing descriptions identified additional commonalities. All professions agreed on 4 MOA categories for MT. A glossary of 280 terms and definitions was consolidated, representing key concepts in MT. Twenty-one terms were used by all MT professions and basic scientists. Five terms were used by MT professions exclusive of basic scientists. CONCLUSION: Outcomes suggested a third to a half of techniques used in MT are similar across professions. Additional research is needed to better define the extent of similarity and how to consistently identify those approaches. Ongoing expansion and refinement of the glossary is necessary to promote descriptive clarity and facilitate communication between practitioners and basic scientists.

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  • Manual therapy may be administered by different professionals, including physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, dental specialists and medical doctors.

    “Manual therapy may be administered by different professionals, including physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, dental specialists and medical doctors from various specializations [14].”

    From Efficacy of manual therapy by different healthcare professionals on pain and function in temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (2026) · cites this paper as [14]

    The Results’ scope-of-practice table identifies physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopathic practitioners as manual-therapy providers, and describes osteopathic physicians as licensed to practise medicine and use osteopathic manipulative medicine. It does not identify dental specialists or medical doctors from other specializations as providers. The available passages have section labels but no page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Variability in outcomes may reflect the therapist's level of training, precision and clinical competence.

    “Variability in outcomes may reflect the therapist’s level of training, precision and clinical competence [13,14].”

    From Efficacy of manual therapy by different healthcare professionals on pain and function in temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (2026) · cites this paper as [14]

    The Discussion’s recommendations say that standardized technique parameters could help educational programs advance practitioners’ training and skills. They do not address whether differences in therapist training, precision, or clinical competence explain variability in patient outcomes; searches for those terms found no passage making that connection. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.73)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The success of manual therapy interventions may be contingent on the practitioner's qualifications and experience.

    “The success of manual therapy interventions may therefore be contingent on the practitioner’s qualifications and experience [13,14].”

    From Efficacy of manual therapy by different healthcare professionals on pain and function in temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (2026) · cites this paper as [14]

    The Introduction and Discussion passages address differences among manual-therapy professions, training, and techniques, but do not link intervention success to an individual practitioner’s qualifications or experience. Searches for practitioner experience, skill, and treatment outcomes found no passage making that connection. (LLM, conf=0.72)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cited by

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Authors
Degenhardt, B., van Dun, P. L. S., Jacobson, E., Fritz, S., Mettler, P., Kettner, N., Kelley-Franklin, G., Hensel, K., Lesondak, D., Consorti, G., Frank, L., Reed, W. R., MacDonald, C., Kremen, V., Martin, C., Landels, B., & Standley, P.
Affiliations
  • A.T. Still Research Institute (US)
  • Foundation COME Collaboration
  • Harvard University (US)
  • School of Therapeutic Massage
  • and Mettler Institute
  • Logan University (US)
  • University of North Texas Health Science Center (US)
  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (US)
  • Praxis für Orthopädie, Osteopathie und Sportmedizin
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
  • Regis University (US)
  • Czech Technical University in Prague
  • Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (US)
  • Anatomy Trains
  • University of Arizona College of Medicine- Phoenix (US)
Corresponding author
Degenhardt, Brian
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2023-12-17
Volume
32
Issue
1
Pages
96-110
ISSN
  • 1066-9817 (ISSN-L)
  • 2042-6186
DOI
10.1080/10669817.2023.2288495
PMC
PMC10795627
OpenAlex
W4389870028
Cited by
25
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2022: 1
FWCI
2.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Osteopathic Heritage Foundation
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Musculoskeletal Disorders and Rehabilitation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
Keywords
manual therapy, nomenclature, glossary, interprofessional communication, chiropractic, massage, osteopathic manipulative treatment, physiotherapy, structural integration, mechanism of action, scope of practice, terminology standardization
MeSH terms
Chiropractic, Humans, Osteopathic Medicine, Musculoskeletal Manipulations, Physical Therapy Modalities, Osteopathic Physicians

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