SynthesisPeerJ2026
Exercise modalities associated with reduced functional disability in nonspecific neck pain: a network meta-analysis and exploratory dose-response analysis.
Synthesis in PeerJ, 2026. 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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Nonspecific neck pain (NSNP) is a common musculoskeletal condition that often leads to substantial functional disability and reduced quality of life. Exercise therapy is central to its management. However, the comparative effectiveness of specific modalities and dose-related patterns remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) including 51 randomized controlled trials with 4,140 participants. Functional disability, measured using validated instruments, was the primary outcome. A Bayesian random-effects NMA was performed to compare exercise modalities, and a dose-response analysis examined the association between exercise parameters and outcomes. Effects were summarized as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% credible intervals (CrIs). Results: Mind-body exercise was associated with a greater reduction in NSNP-related functional disability than control (SMD -0.363; 95% CrI [-0.516 to -0.151]). Resistance training (SMD -0.359; 95% CrI [-0.611 to -0.102]), flexibility training (SMD -0.352; 95% CrI [-0.623 to -0.078]), and coordination training (SMD -0.328; 95% CrI [-0.579 to -0.076]) were also associated with reductions in NSNP-related functional disability relative to control. Exploratory dose-response analysis suggested a possible non-linear association between per-session exercise dose, expressed pragmatically as MET-min, and NSNP-related functional disability. Estimated reductions were observed from around 100 MET-min per session, with larger study-level effects around 300-400 MET-min per session. Conclusion: Mind-body exercise, resistance training, flexibility training, and coordination training appear to be relatively favorable modalities for reducing NSNP-related functional disability. The dose-response findings should be interpreted cautiously, given the heterogeneity of the interventions and the limitations of the available study-level data.
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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.