Yi JB, Chang MC. Necessity of collaboration between pain physicians and orthotists in pain medicine. World J Clin Cases 2025; 13(19): 104976 [DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i19.104976]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Min Cheol Chang, MD, Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daemyungdong, 317-1, Namku, Daegu 705-717, South Korea. wheel633@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Management
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Necessity of collaboration between pain physicians and orthotists in pain medicine
Jin-Bok Yi, Min Cheol Chang
Jin-Bok Yi, Department of Rehabilitation Technology, Hanseo University, Seosan 31962, South Korea
Min Cheol Chang, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu 705-717, South Korea
Author contributions: Yi JB and Chang MC designed the research study; Yi JB and Chang MC drifted and revised the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author has no conflicts of interest.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Min Cheol Chang, MD, Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daemyungdong, 317-1, Namku, Daegu 705-717, South Korea. wheel633@gmail.com
Received: January 8, 2025 Revised: February 19, 2025 Accepted: February 27, 2025 Published online: July 6, 2025 Processing time: 70 Days and 21.8 Hours
Abstract
In this editorial, we comment on the article by Nagamine et al, published in the World Journal of Clinical Cases. The authors suggest that virtual reality technology has potential in alleviating pain by enhancing brain network functionality. Alongside virtual reality, various treatment methods are used to effectively manage musculoskeletal pain. One such method is the use of orthoses, which are applied in clinical settings. We emphasize the need for collaboration between pain physicians and orthotists when applying orthoses for pain management. The efficacy of orthoses is maximized when customized to the physical characteristics of each patient, type of disease, and location of pain. Orthoses are designed to restore anatomical alignment and biomechanical function; however, their success depends on the expertise of trained orthotists, who should effectively communicate with physicians and understand the mechanical principles of musculoskeletal alignment. The professional knowledge of orthotists is critical in ensuring that orthoses are appropriately designed and applied to achieve therapeutic efficacy. Since no single treatment modality typically offers sufficient relief for musculoskeletal pain, effective collaboration between pain physicians and orthotists is crucial to optimize the use of orthoses in the management of pain.
Core Tip: Effective management of musculoskeletal pain often requires a multidisciplinary approach, combining treatments, such as drug therapy, physiotherapy, and orthotic devices. Orthoses are usefully being applied in controlling pain by restoring anatomical alignment and preventing further injury. To maximize their efficacy, orthoses must be customized to the physical characteristics of each patient, type of disease, and location of pain. Collaboration between pain physicians and trained orthotists is essential for ensuring appropriate design and application of orthoses. It leads to improved patient outcomes in the management of pain.
