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Closing the window of opportunity …

record updated
item type
article on a website
author
Adam Meakins
link
https://www.thesports.physio/closing-the-window-of-opportunity/
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journal
Thesports.physio
year
2016
month
October 12

PainSci notes

This is a thoughtful takedown of the popular notion of the therapeutic “window of opportunity.”

Therapies that are ineffective by every meaningful measure still often produce transient, trivial pain relief (because almost anything can). These minor benefits might be encouraging and motivating enough to constitute a meaningful opportunity to advance recovery. For instance, someone might be more willing to do some exercise, or get an extra boost fighting their nicotine addiction. For one of the better interpretations of this idea, see “Manual Therapies Make Space”.

While there’s probably some truth in the idea of a window of opportunity, Meakins argues that it’s usually just a thin, self-serving justification for using ineffective methods, “more for the therapists’ benefit rather than the patients’.”

~ Paul Ingraham, PainSci Publisher

Related Content

  1. “Immediate effects from manual therapy: much ado about nothing?,” Cook, Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, 2011.
  2. “Manual Therapies Make Space,” Danziger, www.truemovement.net, 2016.

These two articles on PainScience.com cite this item as a source:

  1. Complete Guide to Frozen Shoulder
  2. “Windows of Opportunity” in Rehab

PainSci Member Login » Submit your email to unlock member content. If you can’t remember/access your registration email, please contact me. ~ Paul Ingraham, PainSci Publisher