Patients as Partners in Research: A Practical Example of How Researchers Are Contributing to the Patient-Partnership Revolution.

Abstract

Every musculoskeletal pain condition and rehabilitation experience is different. That is why listening to, and truly collaborating with, people who experience pain is imperative in research and, ultimately, clinical management of musculoskeletal pain. Patient-centered care and shared decision making are core principles when working with people with musculoskeletal pain conditions, and should include research as a part of developing care. In this editorial, the authors provide one example of how they are partnering with patients (and clinicians) in their current research. They aim to encourage researchers to foster patient partnership in musculoskeletal research and share with potential patient partners how patients were engaged in their research. <i>J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2020;50(7):347-349. doi:10.2519/jospt.2020.0105</i>.