BMJ Evid Based Med March 2025 PMID 40101974

Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomised trials.

Aidan G Cashin, Bradley M Furlong, Steven J Kamper, Diana De Carvalho, Luciana Ac Machado, Simon Re Davidson, Krystal K Bursey, Christina Abdel Shaheed, Amanda M Hall

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Mentions

208

Peak: 57 in Mar 2025

across 6 sources since Mar 2025

Extended reach

13,977,755

potential audience

Total likes

545

Video views

12,942

Mentions per month

Mar 2025 – Oct 2026

Where it's discussed

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Blogs9 articles
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Reddit4 posts
YouTube3 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The collection frames the article as revealing limited efficacy of most non-surgical back pain treatments beyond placebo, emphasizing a sobering reality and highlighting the small or uncertain benefits of several interventions. Posts use alarmist or corrective tones, with phrases like 'sobering reality,' 'less relief than expected,' and 'only small analgesic effects,' suggesting a notable shift in expectations. Word choices such as 'may provide little relief beyond a placebo,' 'not very promising,' and 'one in ten are efficacious' reflect a cautious, critical mood. The tone mixes alarm, curiosity, and reseach-credibility cues (mentions of 301 trials, meta-analysis, and citations), illustrating a discussion that questions routine practices and calls for higher-quality evidence.

AgreementModerate agreement

Overall, posts trend toward cautious agreement or acknowledgment that benefits are small and often not beyond placebo, signaling mild support for the paper's cautious conclusions.

InterestHigh interest

Strong to high interest is evident, with many posts highlighting surprising or sobering findings and reframing back pain treatment effectiveness.

EngagementModerate engagement

Moderate engagement: discussions reference multiple details (number of trials, specific treatments) but rely on reposts and headlines rather than in-depth critique.

ImpactModerate impact

Moderate impact: the messages aim to shift expectations about common treatments, though practical implications or changes in practice aren't deeply explored.

Abstract in brief

This review analyzed data from 301 trials to evaluate how effective non-surgical treatments like NSAIDs, exercise, and spinal manipulation are for low back pain, finding some small but moderate certainty benefits for specific treatments, especially for chronic pain.
Certain treatments such as NSAIDs for acute pain and exercise, glucocorticoid injections, or paracetamol for acute low back pain showed some efficacy, while others like antibiotics and anesthetics did not improve pain outcomes and are not recommended.
Overall, the evidence is limited and inconclusive for many treatments due to small sample sizes and low quality data, highlighting the need for more high-quality research in this area.

Read the full abstract

All mentions

Do Chiropractic Adjustments Really Help? JAMA 1000-Person Trial

A 1,000-person, randomized trial examines spinal manipulation vs. standard care and self-management. Across 1 year, outcomes show small or similar benefits for pain and disability; improvements vary by measure and…

1min et al. · Oct 14, 2026 7,497 views

Effective Treatments for Low Back Pain: Evidence-Based Insights

Are you suffering from low back pain and tired of ineffective treatments? This video reveals the truth about what really works for back pain, based on the latest scientific evidence from over 300 clinical trials…

Dr. Samy Mohamady الدكتور سامي محمدي · Mar 26, 2025 5,430 views

Effectiveness of Non-Surgical Treatments for Lower Back Pain

This analysis reveals that only about 10% of common nonsurgical treatments for lower back pain are effective. The study reviewed 301 trials across 44 countries, assessing pharmacological and non-pharmacological options…

Science News · Mar 25, 2025 15 views

Grok

@grok · X

@ddbhaiya @scitechgirl Here are the main links for the Cashin et al. 2025 review on back pain treatments: Journal page: https://t.co/mLUa6APcAh DOI: https://t.co/OUFR2QYyrF PubMed: https://t.co/pFBRh8KBT7 OSF registration: https://t.co/sDikMCm7my ResearchGate (with PDF): https://t.co/PpPGpb8FvH

Oct 19, 2026 · 1 like · 9,211,864 followers View post →

SciTech Girl

@scitechgirl · X

Oct 18, 2026 · 26 likes · 9 shares · 22,056 followers View post →

長谷川淳史

@TMS_Japan · X

詳細はこちら。 ?Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomised trials ?https://t.co/cBkl6QJwcO ?Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments

Aug 16, 2026 · 6,573 followers View post →

長谷川淳史

@TMS_Japan · X

Aug 15, 2026 · 1 like · 6,573 followers View post →

Massimo

@Rainmaker1973 · X

Apr 14, 2026 · 70 likes · 11 shares · 4,442,692 followers View post →

長谷川淳史

@TMS_Japan · X

【腰痛治療の9割が効果なし　腰痛患者を惑わせた56の“無意味な希望”】 ? 概要 https://t.co/CcKA74tY9X

Dec 4, 2025 · 4 likes · 1 share · 6,573 followers View post →

長谷川淳史

@TMS_Japan · X

【腰痛治療の9割が効果なし：腰痛患者を惑わせた56の“無意味な希望”】 ? 研究概要 ?対象：成人の非特異的腰痛（急性＜12週、慢性≧12週）。 ?方法：301件のランダム化プラセボ対照試験、56種類の非外科的治療を評価（MEDLINEなどで2023年4月14日まで検索）。 ✅ https://t.co/Qwu1nisHNZ

Aug 16, 2025 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 6,573 followers View post →

長谷川淳史

@TMS_Japan · X

【腰痛治療の9割が効果なし：腰痛患者を惑わせた56の“無意味な希望”】 ? 研究概要 ?対象：成人の非特異的腰痛（急性＜12週、慢性≧12週）。 ?方法：301件のランダム化プラセボ対照試験、56種類の非外科的治療を評価（MEDLINEなどで2023年4月14日まで検索）。 ✅ https://t.co/zHCoQqqq9R

Jun 9, 2025 · 10 likes · 5 shares · 6,573 followers View post →

Sahba Ferdowsi DO (conciergedoc)

@DrFerdowsi · X

RT @pash22: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of…

May 17, 2025 · 1 share · 9,562 followers View post →

Ash Paul

@pash22 · X

Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomised trials https://t.co/M0kYUxLXJ6 via @stevekamper1 et al https://t.co/ON9XvdwAM2

May 17, 2025 · 5 likes · 1 share · 33,657 followers View post →

πRφ | Minarchiste Identitaire????

@Pieryu89 · X

@WasteDawn @TheLilyCroft Je vais re-préciser mon point que vous semblez survolé : les manipulations vertébrales (SMT - spinal manipulation therapy) sont une thérapie sûre, plus efficace que le placebo, et recommandée internationalement en première ligne d’intervention pour les douleurs communes d’origine https://t.co/MJyst9m0KX

May 16, 2025 · 1 like · 173 followers View post →

Centinel

@centinel.bsky.social · Bluesky

Eficacia de diversos tratamientos no quirúrgicos para el dolor de espalda, metanálisis: ebm.bmj.com/content/earl... Sin evidencia de eficacia en la mayoría.

Apr 6, 2025 · 2 likes View post →

Alli Ruff

@allilruff.bsky.social · Bluesky

Nothing says #NationalDoctorsDay like another analysis showing we arent all the successful treating back pain... ebm.bmj.com/content/earl...

Mar 30, 2025 View post →

Redzal Abu Hanifah

@docredzal · X

Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomised trials https://t.co/Q0Le0ReSZW

Mar 24, 2025 · 27 followers View post →

Joe Przytula

@jpatc1 · X

Analgesic effects of non- surgical and non- interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta- analysis of placebo- controlled randomised trials https://t.co/BiMvA1EyS0

Mar 24, 2025 · 1 like · 1,058 followers View post →

一只小飞象

@drivefly5 · X

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Mar 23, 2025 · 18 shares · 81 followers View post →

Koushik

@koushikphysio · X

RT @mvianin: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis o…

Mar 23, 2025 · 1 share · 512 followers View post →

amrshaker94

@amrshaker941 · X

RT @PhysioMeScience: Just published

Mar 22, 2025 · 18 shares · 23 followers View post →

Michael Vianin

@mvianin · X

Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomised trials | BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine - https://t.co/zSRBOVsl3i

Mar 22, 2025 · 1 like · 1 share · 119 followers View post →

ACPSEMdance

@ACPSEMdance · X

RT @pash22: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of…

Mar 22, 2025 · 5 shares · 2,928 followers View post →

Mario Zimmer PT

@MZ2024_182A · X

Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomised trials | BMJ https://t.co/vVV7Qxdiss

Mar 22, 2025 · 584 followers View post →

Mario Zimmer PT

@MPT26_ · X

Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomised trials | BMJ https://t.co/vVV7Qxdiss

Mar 22, 2025 · 585 followers View post →

Lloyd Renals

@LloydRenals · X

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Mar 21, 2025 · 18 shares · 2,538 followers View post →

MSKphile

@riquier_sylvain · X

RT @Mattjones0203: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-anal…

Mar 20, 2025 · 4 shares · 77 followers View post →

ivanpinzon

@ivanpin81236291 · X

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Ramón Grandales Fuentes

@grandales_ramon · X

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MSKphile

@riquier_sylvain · X

RT @Retlouping: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysi…

Mar 20, 2025 · 14 shares · 77 followers View post →

Dr Jean-Jacques FRASLIN

@fraslin.bsky.social · Bluesky

Revue systématique et méta-analyse d'essais randomisés contrôlés par placebo : Seule l'utilisation d'anti-inflammatoires non stéroïdiens (AINS) est relativement efficace pour réduire les lombalgies aiguës ou de courte durée. ebm.bmj.com/content/earl...

Mar 20, 2025 · 5 likes · 6 shares View post →

Arsalan Ghorbanpour

@GhorbanpourApt1 · X

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Mar 20, 2025 · 18 shares · 93 followers View post →

Bongani Mayosi Health Sciences Library (BMHSL)

@uct_bmhsl · X

RT @Mattjones0203: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-anal…

Mar 20, 2025 · 4 shares · 1,558 followers View post →

William Montaña

@WilliamMontaa10 · X

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Mar 19, 2025 · 18 shares · 9 followers View post →

AlizayAzher

@lubnaknisa1717 · X

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Mar 19, 2025 · 20 shares · 40 followers View post →

Lianne Wood

@WoodwicksLianne · X

RT @Retlouping: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysi…

Mar 19, 2025 · 14 shares · 1,610 followers View post →

Mahito L'apostolos

@OMaMihai · X

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Daniel Godeassi

@dangodeassi · X

RT @Retlouping: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysi…

Mar 19, 2025 · 14 shares · 196 followers View post →

Carlos Becerra

@drcarlosbec · X

RT @Retlouping: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysi…

Mar 19, 2025 · 14 shares · 62 followers View post →

Geoff Henderson ✌️

@azgeoff.bsky.social · Bluesky

not very promising... we've not really made any progress on low back pain... ebm.bmj.com/content/earl...

Mar 19, 2025 View post →

Ammar Suhail, PT

@suhailphysio89 · X

RT @Retlouping: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysi…

Mar 19, 2025 · 14 shares · 677 followers View post →

Luciana Machado

@machadolac.bsky.social · Bluesky

Our new paper builds upon my 2008 PhD work on the efficacy of all available treatments for low back pain. Once again, we found that only a few options surpass placebo effects, and by very small margins. #backpain #EBM ebm.bmj.com/content/earl...

Mar 19, 2025 · 2 likes · 2 shares View post →

@Industryideator · X

Mar 19, 2025 · 3 likes · 301 followers View post →

John McFadden, M.D.

@drjohnhaiti · X

RT @Mattjones0203: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-anal…

Mar 19, 2025 · 4 shares · 4,463 followers View post →

Pat Bernat

@PatBernat · X

RT @Retlouping: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysi…

Mar 19, 2025 · 14 shares · 528 followers View post →

Mikołaj Stańczak

@mstanczako · X

RT @Retlouping: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysi…

Mar 19, 2025 · 14 shares · 80 followers View post →

Derrick Hutchinson

@hutch_derrick · X

RT @Retlouping: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysi…

Mar 19, 2025 · 14 shares · 106 followers View post →

Giacomo Rossettini

@GiacomoRoss86 · X

RT @Retlouping: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysi…

Mar 19, 2025 · 14 shares · 2,851 followers View post →

Travis Haber

@haber_travis · X

RT @Retlouping: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysi…

Mar 19, 2025 · 14 shares · 283 followers View post →

FBI

@smartsartan · X

RT @Retlouping: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysi…

Mar 19, 2025 · 14 shares · 669 followers View post →

ɹǝʇlnoԀ pıʌɐᗡ

@Retlouping · X

Mar 19, 2025 · 46 likes · 14 shares · 26,825 followers View post →

Kinesis Fizjoterapia

@KinesisKrakow · X

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Ertania

@ErtaniaNirmala · X

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@carlosgeversdc · X

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Aaron McEneaney

@aaron_physio · X

RT @pash22: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of…

Mar 19, 2025 · 5 shares · 729 followers View post →

Giacomo Rossettini

@GiacomoRoss86 · X

RT @pash22: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of…

Mar 19, 2025 · 5 shares · 2,851 followers View post →

Aidan Cashin

@AidanCashin · X

RT @pash22: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of…

Mar 19, 2025 · 6 shares · 662 followers View post →

Matt Parselle

@MParselle · X

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Mar 19, 2025 · 20 shares · 626 followers View post →

Carlos Alberto

@CarlosAbertoVM · X

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Mar 19, 2025 · 18 shares · 127 followers View post →

Giacomo Rossettini

@GiacomoRoss86 · X

RT @Mattjones0203: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-anal…

Mar 19, 2025 · 4 shares · 2,851 followers View post →

Bongani Mayosi Health Sciences Library (BMHSL)

@uct_bmhsl · X

RT @pash22: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of…

Mar 19, 2025 · 5 shares · 1,558 followers View post →

Fernando Ramirez S.

@Fernanneurologo · X

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Mar 19, 2025 · 18 shares · 1,530 followers View post →

Beans

@FionaNaylor2 · X

RT @pash22: Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of…

Mar 19, 2025 · 5 shares · 2,446 followers View post →

Ash Paul

@pash22 · X

Mar 19, 2025 · 11 likes · 5 shares · 33,657 followers View post →

Dr Geraint Preest

@drgeraintpreest.bsky.social · Bluesky

Only one in 10 non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low #backpain are efficacious, providing only small analgesic effects beyond placebo. ebm.bmj.com/content/earl...

Mar 19, 2025 · 2 likes · 2 shares View post →

Lychee Wing

@juliachiwinglai · X

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Mar 19, 2025 · 18 shares · 38 followers View post →

Physio Meets Science

@PhysioMeScience · X

Just published

Mar 19, 2025 · 84 likes · 18 shares · 93,674 followers View post →

LANLO Olivier

@LanloOlivier · X

A total of 301 trials provided data on 56 different treatments or treatment combinations. One tt for acute low back pain (NSAIDs) and five tts for chronic LBP (exercise, spinal manip therapy, taping, antidepressants and (TRPV1) agonists were efficacious https://t.co/L2if99nCgS

Mar 19, 2025 · 1 like · 341 followers View post →

Matt Jones

@Mattjones0203 · X

Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomised trials https://t.co/OH1LCda7CC

Mar 19, 2025 · 17 likes · 4 shares · 1,518 followers View post →

Ashis Basu

@BasuAshis · X

Mar 18, 2025 · 17,734 followers View post →

Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomised trials.

Mentions per month

Where it's discussed

What people are saying

Abstract in brief

Top posts

All mentions

Do Chiropractic Adjustments Really Help? JAMA 1000-Person Trial

Effective Treatments for Low Back Pain: Evidence-Based Insights

Effectiveness of Non-Surgical Treatments for Lower Back Pain