SynthesisThe Journal of manual & manipulative therapy2025
Caution is necessary in interpreting musculoskeletal physiotherapy intervention outcomes: a methodological review of physiotherapy neuromusculoskeletal reviews.
Synthesis in The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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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.
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
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Abstract
objectivesThe physiotherapy literature lacks high-quality, registered systematic reviews (SRs) and 'trustworthy' randomized controlled trials (RCTs). It is unknown whether considering quality and 'trustworthiness' impact publication bias, heterogeneity, and the certainty of clinical recommendations observed in the literature.
methodsWe performed a methodological review of SRs investigating physiotherapy treatment of neuromusculoskeletal conditions indexed by MEDLINE, between 1 January 2018, and 25 October 2023. Blinded reviewers examined the prospective intent and quality of SRs and the 'trustworthiness' of RCTs included therein. Blinded reviewers extracted data for the variables of interest (Numeric Pain Rating Scale and Visual Analog Scale).
resultsOf the SRs identified ( DISCUSSION: Trials of musculoskeletal interventions to manage pain in patients with neuromusculoskeletal conditions lack certainty and confidence in their treatment effects and exhibit high heterogeneity. Statistically significant effects and heterogeneity are eliminated when considering 'trustworthy' quality evidence.
conclusionsConsistent with previous findings, null effects, and low heterogeneity arise when considering the best available evidence. Meaningful effects are likely rare when assessed holistically using statistical inference through estimation and the confidence and certainty of the estimated effect.
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