Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42495894›Full record

ReviewPain research & management2026

Research Trends and Insights in Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: Bibliometric Analysis (1996-2025).

Wei Yan, Lingjun Kong, Tianxiang He, Xin Zhou, Guangxin Guo, Qingguang Zhu, Xiaobing Xi, Min Fang

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Pain research & management, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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

8 authors.

Wei YanDepartment of Clinical Medicine School, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China, shutcm.edu.cn.
Lingjun KongDepartment of Tuina, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China, shutcm.edu.cn.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6854-4202
Tianxiang HeDepartment of Tuina, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China, shutcm.edu.cn.
Xin ZhouDepartment of Tuina, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China, shutcm.edu.cn.
Guangxin GuoDepartment of Tuina, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China, shutcm.edu.cn.
Qingguang ZhuYue Yang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China, shutcm.edu.cn.
Xiaobing XiDepartment of Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China, shsmu.edu.cn.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4372-8312
Min FangDepartment of Tuina, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China, shutcm.edu.cn.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5241-6460

Funding

Construction of research-oriented wards of SHDC SHDC2022CRW010National Natural Science Foundation of China 82205304Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Tuina Technology for Muscle and Bone Diseases 24dz2260200Shanghai Municipal Health Commission 2024QN110Three Year Action Plan Project for Shanghai to Further Accelerate the Inheritance, Innovation and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine ZY (2025-2027)-3-1-1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP) is a major global driver of disability, with increasing attention toward individualized, evidence-based, and function-oriented interventions. To delineate the global CNLBP research landscape, we conducted a bibliometric and visualization analysis covering the period from 1996 to 2025.

methodsPublications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, and VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package bibliometrix were used to examine publication growth, author output, contributions by countries and institutions, journal influence, keyword co-occurrence patterns, and citation burst signals.

resultsA total of 937 peer-reviewed articles were identified, authored by 4,336 individuals across 288 journals and 65 countries. The largest share of publications was contributed by the United States, while Australia demonstrated strong international collaboration and citation impact. Institutions such as Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, University of Southern Denmark, and University of Sydney played leading roles in CNLBP research output. Influential authors included Peter O'Sullivan and Kieran O'Sullivan, noted for contributions to psychosocial modeling and individualized rehabilitation. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified four thematic clusters: (1) disease definition and epidemiology; (2) evidence-based management and health systems; (3) neuromechanical rehabilitation strategies; and (4) psychosocial dimensions and patient-centered outcomes. Burst keyword analysis revealed recent focus on "motor control" (2021-2024), "Tampa scale" (2023-2025), and "quality of life" (2023-2025), reflecting the shift toward precision rehabilitation and multidimensional assessment.

conclusionsA comprehensive overview of the evolving CNLBP research landscape was provided through this bibliometric analysis. Findings underscore the transition from diagnostic exploration to integrated clinical interventions, with growing emphasis on function, psychological well-being, and personalized care pathways.

Indexed as

BibliometricsBiomedical ResearchChronic PainLow Back PainHumansbibliometric analysischronic nonspecific low back painCiteSpaceVOSviewer

Identifiers

PMID42495894
PMCPMC13397466

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.