Musculoskeletal Clinical Translation Framework

Individual’s Functional Goals/

Individual’s Problem/s Capacity Expectations
Perspective

Specific Non-Specific Red

Diagnosis Diagnosis Flags
Diagnosis

Chronic/
Acute Sub-acute Recurrent
Stage of Persistent
Disorder

Types Nociceptive Neuropathic Nociplastic Mixed

Characteristics Mechanical Non-Mechanical

Pain Features
Sensitisation Low High

Cognitive
Factors Low High

Affective Low High

Factors
Psychosocial
Considerations
Social Low High
(Yellow Flags)
Factors

Workplace
Work Factors Low High
Considerations
(Blue & Black
Flags)

Lifestyle
Factors Low High
Lifestyle
Considerations

General Health
Low High
& Co-Morbidities
Whole Person
Considerations
Helpful Unhelpful
(Protective) (Provocative)

Functional Impairment of Impairment of Pain

Behaviours Movement Control Behaviours De-conditioning

Important
Diagnosis Stage Contributing
Clinical Factors
Decision Making
Developed by Postgraduate Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Teaching Team, Curtin University.
Tim Mitchell, Darren Beales, Helen Slater & Peter O’Sullivan