A recent study conducted at an academic medical center in Amman, Jordan, has highlighted the significant use of complementary medicine (CM) among patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. The research, which surveyed 1001 outpatient orthopedic and rheumatology patients between January and September 2020, found that 43.4% of patients turned to nutritional CM, while 29.8% used physical CM therapies. Notably, 16% of patients combined both types of therapies alongside their prescribed treatments.

Olive oil emerged as the most commonly used nutritional therapy (22.9%), while cupping was the leading physical therapy (41.6%). Interestingly, the study revealed that most patients relied on family and friends for advice on CM, with only 9.5% discussing their CM use with their physician.

These findings underscore the need for healthcare providers to routinely inquire about their patients' use of CM, ensuring that they can offer well-rounded guidance on both the benefits and risks of these treatments. With CM usage prevalent, it's essential for doctors to foster open communication with patients to ensure the safest and most effective care for MSK disorders.

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