Description
Musculoskeletal disorders represent a leading cause of disability worldwide, placing increasing demands on physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians to deliver effective, multimodal, and patient-centered care. Phytotherapy, defined as the therapeutic use of plant-derived medicines, has a long history of global use and is gaining renewed interest in contemporary medical practice. This session explores the role of phytotherapy in musculoskeletal care, examining its mechanisms, current clinical applications, advantages and limitations, global utilization, and research gaps. Emphasis is placed on positioning phytotherapy as an adjunct not a replacement to conventional Western medicine. The integration of evidence-informed phytotherapeutic agents may enhance pain management strategies, support functional recovery, and align with evolving patient preferences within rehabilitation medicine.
Learning Objectives
After completing this live activity, the participant should be able to:
- Describe commonly used for MSK pain/inflammation in Latin America, USA, Africa, Asia
- Apply a brief evidence-and-safety screen for phytotherapies (quality, dosing variability, contraindications, herb–drug interaction risk)
- Use culturally humble communication strategies to elicit traditional remedy use and integrate patient preferences into shared MSK care plans
- Discuss impact of integration of Phytotherapy to standard /traditional MSK care
Accreditation Statement
The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
CME Credit Designation
The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) designates this live activityfor a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Disclosure Statement
In accordance with ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, AAPM&R requires all individuals who are in a position to affect the strategic direction of AAPM&R and/or control the content of an educational activity to disclose all financial relationships with any ineligible company within the last 24 months. The ACCME defines an “ineligible company” as any entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Disclosures are made in written form prior to the start of the educational activity, and any potential conflicts of interest that exist are mitigated prior to the start of the activity through AAPM&R’s Conflict of Interest Disclosure and Resolution Policy Process. Individuals in a position to affect the strategic direction of AAPM&R and/or control content and their disclosed financial relationships are listed below.
No other planners, faculty, or individuals in control of content disclosed any relevant financial relationships.
Principle Faculty
Name, Credential(s): Company Name, Nature of financial relationship;
Sol Abreu Sosa MD, FAAPMR - Nothing to Disclose
Deborah Bernal MD, FAAPMR - Nothing to Disclose
Obada Obaisi MD, FAAPMR - Nothing to Disclose
AAPM&R Medical Education Committee
Name, Credential(s): Company Name, Nature of financial relationship
Rachel Brakke Holman, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Sarah M. Eickmeyer, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Chelsea D. Frost, MD, MS - Nothing to Disclose
David J. Haustein, MBA,MD,MBA - Relationships to Disclose
Sarah K. Hwang, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Ravi E. Kasi, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Caroline Pupke, DO - Nothing to Disclose
Monica E. Rho, MD - Nothing to Disclose
McCasey R. Smith, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Jennifer A. Soo Hoo, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Brionn K. Tonkin, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Stephanie Tow, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Justin L. Weppner, DO - Nothing to Disclose
Alexandra G. Wolfe, DO - Nothing to Disclose
FDA Disclosures
All faculty members for this activity have disclosed they do not intend to discuss or demonstrate any pharmaceutical or medical device for which FDA clearance has not been approved.