Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38926726›Full record

SynthesisBMC musculoskeletal disorders2024

Effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on chronic low back pain: a systematic review.

Lama Eid, Mina George, Doaa A Abdel Hady

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
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

3 authors.

Lama EidFaculty of Physical Therapy, Deraya University, Minia, Egypt.
Mina GeorgeFaculty of Physical Therapy, Deraya University, Minia, Egypt.
Doaa A Abdel HadyDepartment of Physical Therapy for Women's Health, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Deraya University, Minia, Egypt. doaaabdlnaser@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChronic low back pain (CLBP) is a frequent disease. It is a critical health concern that can influence functional capacity by restricting living activities.

objectivesThe current study is to investigate the effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (TVNs) in the management of CLBP.

methodsWe searched the databases on Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Pedro for randomized clinical trial (RCT) studies published in any language that looked at the effectiveness of TVNs in people with chronic LBP. The inclusion criteria were PICO. Participants in the research were people (≥ 18 years) diagnosed with persistent low back pain for more than 3 months. Study quality was assessed using Cochrane ROB 2.

resultsOur database search found 1084 RCT. A number of studies that were not necessary for the issue were removed, and the overall outcome was six trials. Risk of bias (ROB) evaluations at the study level (derived from outcomes) are reported. In the six studies, two (33.3%) had an overall uncertain ROB (i.e., some concerns), whereas one (16.7%) had a high overall ROB. Three trials (50%) had a low overall RoB.

conclusionThere is still no evidence to support the use of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation as a viable therapeutic rehabilitation strategy. Therefore, we recommend high-quality trials and long-term follow-up to evaluate disability, quality of life, and pain outcomes in these patients.

Indexed as

Chronic PainLow Back PainTranscutaneous Electric Nerve StimulationVagus Nerve StimulationHumansPain MeasurementRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeChronic low back painPhysiotherapyRehabilitationTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation

Identifiers

PMID38926726
PMCPMC11201057

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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.