Sources

Every study, review and guideline cited anywhere in the BodySignals Library, grouped by type of evidence. There are 94 sources in total. Each one was located and checked through a live search; none are invented. Articles link to the specific sources they rely on. How the types differ in weight is explained in how to read our evidence labels.

Cochrane reviews

• Workplace interventions for reducing sitting at work (Cochrane review). 2018.
• Interventions for preventing and treating low-back and pelvic pain during pregnancy (Cochrane Review). 2015.

Meta-analyses

• Exploring exercise prescription parameters for pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2026.
• The effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions for pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. 2026.
• Daily steps and health outcomes in adults: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. 2025.
• The effect of vitamin K2 supplementation on bone turnover biochemical markers in postmenopausal osteoporosis: systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025.
• Therapeutic exercise for forward head posture in neck pain patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025.
• Effect of spinal orthoses on osteoporotic elderly patients: kyphosis, back muscle strength, balance and vertebral fractures. 2024.
• Occupational mechanical exposures as risk factor for chronic low-back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2024.
• The effect of various therapeutic exercises on forward head posture, rounded shoulder, and hyperkyphosis among people with upper crossed syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2024.
• Updated meta-analysis reveals limited efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in chronic low back pain. 2024.
• Does texting while walking affect spatiotemporal gait parameters in healthy adults, older people, and persons with motor or cognitive disorders? A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2023.
• Association between sedentary behavior and low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2022.
• Daily steps and all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis of 15 international cohorts. 2022.
• The association between sedentary behavior and low back pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. 2022.
• To flex or not to flex? Is there a relationship between lumbar spine flexion during lifting and low back pain?. 2020.
• The relationship between forward head posture and neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2019.
• Effectiveness of surgery versus conservative treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis: systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. 2018.
• Exercise for the prevention of low back and pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. 2018.
• Workplace-based interventions for neck pain in office workers: systematic review and meta-analysis. 2018.

Umbrella reviews

• The effectiveness of pain neuroscience education in people with chronic non-specific low back pain: umbrella review with meta-analysis. 2025.

Systematic reviews

• Effectiveness of wearable devices for posture correction: a systematic review of randomized and quasi-experimental studies. 2026.
• Prevalence, clinical predictors, and mechanisms of resorption in lumbar disc herniation: a systematic review. 2025.
• Psychosocial and occupational factors associated with low back pain among healthcare professionals: a systematic review. 2025.
• Effect of vitamin D supplementation on patients with low back pain: a systematic review. 2024.
• Effectiveness of pain neuroscience education in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain and central sensitization: a systematic review. 2023.
• Pain education in the management of patients with chronic low back pain: a systematic review. 2022.
• The association between sleep and chronic spinal pain: a systematic review from the last decade. 2021.
• Diagnostic accuracy of red flags related to cauda equina syndrome compared with MRI: a systematic review. 2018.
• Effects of deep cervical flexor training on impaired physiological functions associated with chronic neck pain: a systematic review. 2018.
• Associations of prolonged standing with musculoskeletal symptoms: a systematic review of laboratory studies. 2017.
• Effect of different mattress designs on promoting sleep quality, pain reduction, and spinal alignment: systematic review of controlled trials. 2015.
• Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations. 2015.
• Measurement properties of the Neck Disability Index: a systematic review. 2009.

Scoping reviews

• Compliance of physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercise in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a scoping review. 2025.

Rapid reviews

• A rapid review on the effectiveness and use of wearable biofeedback motion capture systems in ergonomics. 2024.

Randomised trials

• Combined effects of physiotherapy and vitamin D supplementation on pain, disability, and IL-6 expression in chronic low back pain. 2026.
• Muscle biofeedback versus posture biofeedback on pain and functional outcome in smartphone users with chronic neck pain. 2026.
• Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an individualised, progressive walking and education intervention for the prevention of low back pain recurrence (WalkBack). 2024.
• The effectiveness of a 6-month intervention with sit-stand workstations in office workers (SUFHA cluster RCT). 2024.
• Effectiveness of Schroth exercises during bracing in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (SOSORT Award 2017). 2017.
• Targeted spine strengthening exercise and posture training program to reduce hyperkyphosis in older adults (SHEAF RCT). 2017.
• Motion-sensor biofeedback versus guidelines-based care for sub-acute or chronic low back pain: cluster-randomised pilot trial. 2015.
• Breaking up workplace sitting time with intermittent standing bouts improves fatigue and musculoskeletal discomfort. 2014.
• Effect of training supervision on effectiveness of strength training for reducing neck/shoulder pain and headache in office workers. 2014.
• Influence of frequency and duration of strength training for effective management of neck and shoulder pain. 2012.

Registered trials (ongoing)

• The effects of posture correction and soft tissue mobilisation on shoulder and neck pain in breastfeeding mothers (trial registration). 2026.
• Effect of Pilates exercises on diastasis recti abdominis in postpartum women (trial registration). 2024.

Cohort studies

• Risk factors for persistent postpartum low back and pelvic pain: a prospective cohort study focusing on trunk muscle mass, delivery mode, and prepregnancy physical activity. 2026.
• Incidence, risk factors, and quality of life of low back pain after cesarean and vaginal delivery: a prospective cohort study. 2025.
• Minimum important differences for the Patient-Specific Functional Scale, 4 region-specific outcome measures, and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. 2014.
• Cumulative low back load at work as a risk factor of low back pain: a prospective cohort study. 2013.

Secondary analyses

• Effect of a walking plus education program on the duration and severity of recurrences of low back pain. 2025.
• Clinically relevant decreases in neck/shoulder pain among office workers are associated with strength training adherence and exercise compliance. 2023.

Cross-sectional studies

• Assessment of forward head posture in individuals with and without chronic neck pain: a cross-sectional study. 2026.
• Dietary inadequacies and their association with pain severity and disc degeneration in patients surgically treated for degenerative lumbosacral disorders. 2026.
• Low back pain and disabilities among postpartum women: prevalence, severity and associated factors. 2025.
• The impact of forward head posture on neck muscle endurance and thickness in women with chronic neck pain. 2025.
• Prevalence and interrelationships of screen time, visual disorders, and neck pain among university students. 2024.
• Neck pain associated with smartphone usage among university students. 2023.
• Musculoskeletal pain and risk factors associated with smartphone use in university students. 2022.
• Prevalence of text neck posture, smartphone addiction, and its association with neck disorders among university students. 2022.

Observational studies

• Quantifying unsupported sitting posture impairments using a head-mounted IMU sensor. 2023.
• Postural strategies among office workers during a prolonged sitting bout. 2022.

Laboratory and experimental studies

• Effects of mattress support on sleeping position and low-back pain. 2022.
• The short term musculoskeletal and cognitive effects of prolonged sitting during office computer work. 2018.
• Texting and walking: strategies for postural control and implications for safety. 2014.

Validation studies

• The validity of wireless earbud-type wearable sensors for head angle estimation. 2022.
• Evaluation of head posture using an inertial measurement unit. 2021.

Reviews

• Physiotherapy management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. 2025.
• Surgical and non-surgical management of spondylolisthesis: a comprehensive review. 2025.
• Clinical assessment and management of lumbar spinal stenosis: clinical dilemmas and considerations for surgical referral. 2024.
• Efficacy of different spinal orthoses for pain management, functional improvement, and quality of life in osteoporotic vertebral fractures: a mini review. 2024.
• Prediction and mechanisms of spontaneous resorption in lumbar disc herniation: narrative review. 2024.
• Spinal posture assessment and low back pain. 2023.
• Diagnosis and management of lumbar spinal stenosis: a review. 2022.
• What type of mattress should be chosen to avoid back pain and improve sleep quality? Review of the literature. 2021.
• Calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K2, and magnesium supplementation and skeletal health. 2020.
• The Lancet Series call to action to reduce low value care for low back pain: an update. 2020.
• Prevention and treatment of low back pain: evidence, challenges, and promising directions. 2018.
• Age-related hyperkyphosis: update of its potential causes and clinical impacts. 2017.
• Red flags presented in current low back pain guidelines: a review. 2016.
• Outcome measures in chronic low back pain. 2010.

Narrative reviews

• Treatment of chronic neck pain in patients with forward head posture: a systematic narrative review. 2023.

Guidelines

• Computer Workstations eTool: Chairs (OSHA). 2024.
• Computer Workstations eTool: Good working positions (OSHA). 2024.
• Computer Workstations eTool: Keyboards (OSHA). 2024.
• Computer Workstations eTool: Monitors (OSHA). 2024.

Frameworks

• International framework for red flags for potential serious spinal pathologies. 2020.

Reference works

• Low back pain: evaluation and management (StatPearls). 2024.
• Oswestry Disability Index (Rehabilitation Measures Database). 2021.

Editorials

• “Sit Up Straight”: time to re-evaluate. 2019.

Basic science

• Obesity mediates apoptosis and extracellular matrix metabolic imbalances via MAPK pathway activation in intervertebral disc degeneration. 2019.

Study protocols

• The effect of an active break intervention on nonspecific low back pain and musculoskeletal discomfort during prolonged sitting among young people. 2024.