Preface to Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology

The management of soft tissue dysfunction presents many difficult clinical dilemmas not least of which is the challenge of using management strategies that are based on evidence based principles. In many cases only empirical evidence is available to support clinical reasoning. Absence of evidence does not necessarily imply evidence of absence of effect; however the current trend is to limit treatment options to those where the evidence for benefit is strong and free from doubt and bias, which can restrict consideration of many therapies which have not been researched with large clinical trials.

In this edition of the journal the aim is to guide you through an exploration of current practice and evidence in specific musculoskeletal areas, through the ‘eye’s’ of expert practitioners. We hope you find the content stimulating, useful in your clinical practice and challenging to your clinical reasoning.