COVID 19 and manual therapy: international lessons and perspectives on current and future clinical practice and education

ABSTRACT

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered clinical practice and education in manual therapy globally. Social distancing has limited in-person care and changed health-care provision. Education in manual therapy has moved to online platforms with in-person instruction restricted. The global impact on the clinical practice of manual therapy and education has to date not been explored.

Methods

a questionnaire survey methodology was used. A sample of convenience of global leaders in manual therapy practice and education received an electronic link to two surveys: one on clinical practice and one on education. Contributors could complete one or both surveys.

Results

Twenty-five surveys were received on clinical practice and 23 on education in manual therapy, representing the six major continents. Global themes in clinical practice demonstrated a sudden and dramatic shift away from patient contact, with limited modifications to manual therapy in patient care currently adopted. Themes in education were of a major shift to online learning, development of new modes of student instruction including video-based assessment and virtual case-based instruction.

Conclusion

The international perspectives provided demonstrate a major change in manual therapy practice and education globally. Various approaches have been taken in practice and education without a uniform approach being demonstrated.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• manual therapy
• pandemic
• clinical practice
• education

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the invited contributors to this perspectives paper.

The Institutional Review Boards from Des Moines and Regis Universities exempted this study from review.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.