Protocol for scoping review: Mapping the landscape of acute pain management in sports-related musculoskeletal injuries

Abstract

Background: Acute pain management is critical in sports-related musculoskeletal injuries to facilitate recovery and minimize long-term impact. While current practices vary, incorporating both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, the quality and breadth of existing evidence have not been thoroughly assessed. This scoping review aims to explore the clinical role of different pain management strategies and provide a comprehensive overview of the field. Methods: The review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Searches will be conducted in major peer-reviewed databases and relevant gray literature. Studies involving athletes of any level undergoing treatment for acute musculoskeletal injuries will be considered. Data extraction will include study and participant characteristics, intervention details, reported outcomes, efficacy comparisons, and economic analyses. Results: This review will provide a descriptive synthesis of the data, utilizing statistical analysis, figures, and tables where relevant to introduce the different treatment modalities. In line with PRISMA-P and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, this scoping review incorporates studies of diverse designs. The data synthesis involves descriptive statistics and narrative presentations, aimed at exploring the relationship between study results and research objectives. Conclusion: This scoping review will evaluate various pain management interventions for acute musculoskeletal injuries in sports, mapping the current evidence and identifying gaps in research. The findings will help inform clinical practices and guide future research efforts to optimize pain management strategies in sports medicine.