MATRIX RHYTHM THERAPY IN CHRONIC MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN DISORDERS: A SCOPING REVIEW

Abstract

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a major contributor to global disability and reduced quality of life. Conventional physiotherapy approaches show variable outcomes, necessitating exploration of alternative and adjunctive interventions such as Matrix Rhythm Therapy (MRT). Objective: This scoping review aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the effectiveness of MRT in the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Springer databases for studies published between 2016 and 2025. Additional manual searches were performed. Studies investigating MRT in chronic musculoskeletal conditions were included. A total of 250 records were identified, of which 20 studies met the inclusion criteria after screening and eligibility assessment. Data were extracted and synthesized narratively. Results: The included studies comprised randomized controlled trials, pilot studies, quasi-experimental studies, and case reports. MRT demonstrated consistent improvements in pain reduction, functional ability, and range of motion across various conditions, including chronic low back pain, knee osteoarthritis and neck pain. The effects may be attributed to the factors that MRT revitalizes cellular metabolism and synchronising systemic physiological processes through depth-resonant, rhythmically aligned magneto-mechanical oscillations, which usually work within the clinical frequency of 8-12 Hz (Bhatikar, 2018; Maruthy et al., 2019). Conclusion: MRT appears to be a promising non-invasive therapeutic approach for chronic musculoskeletal pain management. However, the current evidence is limited by methodological variability, and further high-quality research is required to establish standardized clinical guidelines.