Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29480409›Full record

ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2018

The Global Spine Care Initiative: a summary of the global burden of low back and neck pain studies.

Eric L Hurwitz, Kristi Randhawa, Hainan Yu, Pierre Côté, Scott Haldeman

9 registry-linked trialsAbstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 9 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 273 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
273citing papers in PubMed, 9 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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.

NCT04638062 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2020, after this paper: background citation

Effect of Post Isometric Relaxation Versus Myofascial Release Therapy on Pain, Functional Disability and QoL in the Management of Non Specific Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorDow University of Health SciencesRan2020 to 2021Enrolled60ConditionsNeck PainArms1.Post Isometric Relaxation, 1.Myofascial Release therapy
NCT05093543 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2021, after this paper: background citation

Feasibility and Effect of a Multidisciplinary Telematics Approach for Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain: a Randomized, Open-label, Controlled, Pilot Clinical Trial. Study Protocol

TypeinterventionalSponsorHospital Universitari de BellvitgeRan2021 to 2022Enrolled20ConditionsLow Back PainArmsphysical rehabilitation/physiotherapy and psychosocial group sessions
NCT05393323 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

Effects of Cervical Distraction Versus Cervical Traction Techniques on Pain, Range of Motion and Function in Patients With Upper Cervical Pain

TypeinterventionalSponsorRiphah International UniversityRan2022 to 2023Enrolled42ConditionsNeck PainArmsconventional physical therapy with distraction technique, conventional physical therapy with traction technique
NCT05402631 unknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

Can Patient Expectations Influence Pain Reduction After Epidural Injections in Patients With Low Back Pain? An Observational Cohort Study

TypeobservationalSponsorOspedale Regionale di LuganoRan2022 to 2022Enrolled80ConditionsExpectations, Back Pain, Back Pain Lower Back Chronic, Satisfaction, PatientArmsEpidural Injection, Periradicular Injection
NCT05706103 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2021, after this paper: background citation

Efficacy of Specific Skilled Motor Versus General Exercise Training on Peripheral Muscle and Central Brain Alterations in Patients with Recurrent Low Back Pain

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity GhentRan2021 to 2025Enrolled62ConditionsLow Back Pain, RecurrentArmsSpecific skilled motor training, General extension training
NCT05860816 active not recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing Pain Neuroscience Education Programmes for the Treatment of Patients With Chronic Pain in Primary Care Physiotherapy Units: the Physiotherapist's Perspective

TypeobservationalSponsorCastilla-León Health ServiceRan2023 to 2025Enrolled123ConditionsChronic Primary Pain, Musculoskeletal Pain, FibromyalgiaArmsSurvey
NCT05986370 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

The METRIC Study Protocol: an Explanatory Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Neurophysiological Mechanisms Underlying the Therapeutic Effects of Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Chronic Primary Low Back Pain

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversité du Québec à Trois-RivièresRan2023 to 2026Enrolled112ConditionsChronic Low-back PainArmslumbar spinal manipulative therapy, sham spinal manipulative therapy, full spine spinal manipulative therapy
NCT06664931 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Muscle Energy Versus Mulligan Techniques in Treating Patients With Cervical Spondylosis

TypeinterventionalSponsorCairo UniversityRan2024 to 2025Enrolled40ConditionsCervical Spondylosis, Mulligan Mobilization, SNAGs, Muscle Energy TechniqueArmsGroup (A) Muscle Energy Technique (MET), Group (B) Mulligan Mobilizations Techniques (MMT).
NCT07640126 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Three-Needle Dazhui Combined With Electroacupuncture for Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy and Wind-Cold Syndrome: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Controlled Trial Evaluating Pain and Neck Disability

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh CityRan2026 to 2028Enrolled74ConditionsCervical Spondylosis, Wind-Cold Syndrome, Neck Pain, Cervical Spondylotic RadiculopathyArmsStandard Electroacupuncture, Three-Needle Dazhui Technique & Electroacupuncture, Standard Care Drugs
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

273 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Telerehabilitation for neck pain.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
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  3. Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis.Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery · 2024
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  9. Clinical pathways for the management of low back pain from primary to specialised care: a systematic review.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2022
    Pooled it
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213 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Eric L HurwitzOffice of Public Health Studies, University of Hawai`i, Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA. ehurwitz@hawaii.edu.ORCID 0000-0003-3641-0784
Kristi RandhawaFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-6563-7203
Hainan YuFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-7734-0674
Pierre CôtéFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-7227-6485
Scott HaldemanDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8688-9562

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis article summarizes relevant findings related to low back and neck pain from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) reports for the purpose of informing the Global Spine Care Initiative.

methodsWe reviewed and summarized back and neck pain burden data from two studies that were published in Lancet in 2016, namely: "Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 310 diseases and injuries, 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015" and "Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 315 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE), 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015."

resultsIn 2015, low back and neck pain were ranked the fourth leading cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) globally just after ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and lower respiratory infection {low back and neck pain DALYs [thousands]: 94 941.5 [95% uncertainty interval (UI) 67 745.5-128 118.6]}. In 2015, over half a billion people worldwide had low back pain and more than a third of a billion had neck pain of more than 3 months duration. Low back and neck pain are the leading causes of years lived with disability in most countries and age groups.

conclusionLow back and neck pain prevalence and disability have increased markedly over the past 25 years and will likely increase further with population aging. Spinal disorders should be prioritized for research funding given the huge and growing global burden. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Indexed as

Global Burden of DiseasePersons with DisabilitiesGlobal HealthHumansLow Back PainNeck PainPrevalenceBack painGlobal burden of diseaseNeck painSpine

Identifiers

PMID29480409

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.