Distinguishing between causal and non-causal associations: implications for sports medicine clinicians

In any research study, variables may be associated due to either ‘cause and effect’ or alternative reasons that are not causal. While all causal relationships are associational, not all associational relationships are causal, that is, correlation does not equal causation. Sports medicine clinicians are generally interested in causal relationships because they want to know whether an intervention will prevent, treat or rehabilitate injury....