Hubert van Griensven

Mixed methods research – The best of both worlds?

INTRODUCTION There has been a bias towards quantitative research approaches within manual therapy, which may have resulted in a narrow understanding of manual therapy practice. The aim of this Masterclass is to make a contribution to the expansion of methodologies used in manual therapy enquiry by discussing mixed methods research (MMR), a methodology which utilises both qualitative and quantitative methods within a single study in order to provide more comprehensive insights. PURPOSE To review rationales for MMR, as well as some of the common design options and potential difficulties. The paper also discusses theoretical frameworks that have been used to underpin qualitative and quantitative research, and ongoing debates about the possibility of combining them. IMPLICATIONS Complexities associated with health and manual therapy cannot always be investigated satisfactorily by using a single research method. Some issues require a more comprehensive understanding, which may be provided by combining the strengths of quantitative and qualitative methods in a mixed methods study.

Physical Therapy and Pain in the Rehabilitation Patient

Pain rehabilitation is often initially aimed at the somatic tissues in order to treat a patient’s pain. As pain persists, a wider range of factors may become important, such as psychological and social factors, coping strategies, and functional changes in the sensory nervous system. These factors have to be monitored and addressed as appropriate for the individual patient, using approaches such as pain physiology education, appropriate use of diagnostic tests and medication, and psychologically informed rehabilitation.