SynthesisBMC musculoskeletal disorders2017
Systematic review of quantitative imaging biomarkers for neck and shoulder musculoskeletal disorders.
Synthesis in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed.
- Neurophysiological, Radiological, and Molecular Biomarkers of Pain-Related Conditions: An Umbrella Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Advances in Shoulder Pain Imaging: A Narrative Review of Current Practice and Emerging Trends.Current medical imaging · 2025Article
- An overview of systematic reviews investigating clinical features for diagnosing neck pain and its associated disorders.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy · 2025Review
- Overuse injury induces persistent behavioral declines that correlate with higher IL-6 expression in the affected musculoskeletal tissues, circulation, and brain.Frontiers in physiology · 2025Article
- Acupuncture at Sensitized Acupoints versus Sham Acupuncture for Neck-Type Cervical Spondylosis: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of pain research · 2025Article
- The role of inflammatory markers in Temporomandibular Myalgia: A systematic review.The Japanese dental science review · 2023Review
- Evaluation of Shoulder Microcirculation Abnormality Using Laser Doppler Flowmetry.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Association between Musculoskeletal Pain and Bone Turnover Markers in Long-Term Pb-Exposed Workers.Journal of research in health sciences · 2021Article
- Occupational Risk Evaluation Through Infrared Thermography: Development and Proposal of a Rapid Screening Tool for Risk Assessment Arising from Repetitive Actions of the Upper Limbs.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Article
- Occupational Activities: Factors That Tip the Balance From Bone Accrual to Bone Loss.Exercise and sport sciences reviews · 2020Review
- Forced treadmill running reduces systemic inflammation yet worsens upper limb discomfort in a rat model of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2020Article
- Upper body motor function and swallowing impairments and its association in survivors of head and neck cancer: A cross-sectional study.PloS one · 2020Article
- Discomfort glare and psychological stress during computer work: subjective responses and associations between neck pain and trapezius muscle blood flow.International archives of occupational and environmental health · 2020Article
- Therapeutic potential of exosomes in rotator cuff tendon healing.Journal of bone and mineral metabolism · 2019Review
- Best Evidence Rehabilitation for Chronic Pain Part 4: Neck Pain.Journal of clinical medicine · 2019Review
- Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThis study systematically summarizes quantitative imaging biomarker research in non-traumatic neck and shoulder musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). There were two research questions: 1) Are there quantitative imaging biomarkers associated with the presence of neck and shoulder MSDs?, 2) Are there quantitative imaging biomarkers associated with the severity of neck and shoulder MSDs?
methodsPubMed and SCOPUS were used for the literature search. One hundred and twenty-five studies met primary inclusion criteria. Data were extracted from 49 sufficient quality studies.
resultsMost of the 125 studies were cross-sectional and utilized convenience samples of patients as both cases and controls. Only half controlled for potential confounders via exclusion or in the analysis. Approximately one-third reported response rates. In sufficient quality articles, 82% demonstrated at least one statistically significant association between the MSD(s) and biomarker(s) studied. The literature synthesis suggested that neck muscle size may be decreased in neck pain, and trapezius myalgia and neck/shoulder pain may be associated with reduced vascularity in the trapezius and reduced trapezius oxygen saturation at rest and in response to upper extremity tasks. Reduced vascularity in the supraspinatus tendon may also be a feature in rotator cuff tears. Five of eight studies showed an association between a quantitative imaging marker and MSD severity.
conclusionsAlthough research on quantitative imaging biomarkers is still in a nascent stage, some MSD biomarkers were identified. There are limitations in the articles examined, including possible selection bias and inattention to potentially confounding factors. Recommendations for future studies are provided.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.