Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39208263›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2024

Physical functioning in the lumbar spinal surgery population: A systematic review and narrative synthesis of outcome measures and measurement properties of the physical measures.

Katie L Kowalski, Jai Mistry, Anthony Beilin, Maren Goodman, Michael J Lukacs, Alison Rushton

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–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. Do postoperative changes in physical function affect patient-reported outcomes in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis undergoing rehabilitation? A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.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 · 2026
    Trial
  2. Observational
  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

6 authors.

Katie L KowalskiSchool of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-2130-652X
Jai MistrySchool of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Anthony BeilinSchool of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Maren GoodmanWestern Libraries, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Michael J LukacsSchool of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-9113-4834
Alison RushtonSchool of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInternational agreement supports physical functioning as a key domain to measure interventions effectiveness for low back pain. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) are commonly used in the lumbar spinal surgery population but physical functioning is multidimensional and necessitates evaluation also with physical measures.

objective1) To identify outcome measures (PROMs and physical) used to evaluate physical functioning in the lumbar spinal surgery population. 2) To assess measurement properties and describe the feasibility and interpretability of physical measures of physical functioning in this population. STUDY

designTwo-staged systematic review and narrative synthesis.

methodsThis systematic review was conducted according to a registered and published protocol. Two stages of searching were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Health & Psychosocial Instruments, CINAHL, Web of Science, PEDro and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. Stage one included studies to identify physical functioning outcome measures (PROMs and physical) in the lumbar spinal surgery population. Stage two (inception to 10 July 2023) included studies assessing measurement properties of stage one physical measures. Two independent reviewers determined study eligibility, extracted data and assessed risk of bias (RoB) according to COSMIN guidelines. Measurement properties were rated according to COSMIN criteria. Level of evidence was determined using a modified GRADE approach.

resultsStage one included 1,101 reports using PROMs (n = 70 established in literature, n = 67 developed by study authors) and physical measures (n = 134). Stage two included 43 articles assessing measurement properties of 34 physical measures. Moderate-level evidence supported sufficient responsiveness of 1-minute stair climb and 50-foot walk tests, insufficient responsiveness of 5-minute walk and sufficient reliability of distance walked during the 6-minute walk. Very low/low-level evidence limits further understanding.

conclusionsMany physical measures of physical functioning are used in lumbar spinal surgery populations. Few have investigations of measurement properties. Strongest evidence supports responsiveness of 1-minute stair climb and 50-foot walk tests and reliability of distance walked during the 6-minute walk. Further recommendations cannot be made because of very low/low-level evidence. Results highlight promise for a range of measures, but prospective, low RoB studies are required.

Indexed as

Low Back PainLumbar VertebraeHumansPatient Reported Outcome Measures

Identifiers

PMID39208263
PMCPMC11361614

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

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 Socratic graph.