Open research questions in Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation

What the literature leaves open

• investigating more precise and context-aware feedback systems, - evaluating the effectiveness of postural feedback systems in different work environments, - comparing the results of different postural feedback systems, - examining the long-term effects of postural feedback systems

  Effectiveness and usability of a trunk posture feedback system: A longitudinal field study for up to six weeks in a distribution center · 2026 · DOI

• There is limited field-based evidence on the long-term effectiveness of postural feedback systems. Prior studies have shown mixed results regarding the effectiveness of postural feedback systems.

  Effectiveness and usability of a trunk posture feedback system: A longitudinal field study for up to six weeks in a distribution center · 2026 · DOI

• The dataset was imbalanced, with certain MMH tasks contributing substantially more sequences than others. The model's performance in classifying hand configuration was more variable. The need to mitigate the imbalance in the dataset to prevent the model from being biased toward more frequent tasks.

  Vision-language models for occupational physical exposure assessment: Classification and temporal segmentation of manual material handling tasks · 2026 · DOI

• evaluating VLMs in more diverse and real-world settings, - exploring the use of VLMs for other types of tasks and activities, - investigating the impact of different models and architectures on classification performance

  Vision-language models for occupational physical exposure assessment: Classification and temporal segmentation of manual material handling tasks · 2026 · DOI

• Independent clinical and prospective evaluation of the proposed approach is needed, - Investigation of the applicability of the approach to other countries or regions, - Examination of the relationship between the identified intervals and clinical or expert assessment

  Statistical interval-based assessment of work disability using large-scale medical data: implications for public health and workforce participation · 2026 · DOI

• Variability in expert evaluations remains a major challenge in work disability assessment. There is a need for a distribution-informed description of observed disability severity.

  Statistical interval-based assessment of work disability using large-scale medical data: implications for public health and workforce participation · 2026 · DOI

• The lack of validation of the back pain simulator. The potential for technical issues with the motion capture technologies. The need to ensure the feasibility and acceptability of the study setup.

  Sensor-based measurement of fear avoidance and movement patterns of healthy individuals with mechanically induced lower back pain during movement tasks: Study protocol for an experimental non-interventional study · 2026 · DOI

• the lack of validation of the back pain simulator, - the study only includes healthy individuals, - the sample size is limited to 76 participants

  Sensor-based measurement of fear avoidance and movement patterns of healthy individuals with mechanically induced lower back pain during movement tasks: Study protocol for an experimental non-interventional study · 2026 · DOI

• One challenge is the development of effective interventions that target central sensorimotor dysfunctions. Another challenge is the need for personalized interventions that adapt to individual patients' needs and anatomical regions. The study also highlights the challenge of ensuring patient engagement and adherence to digital interventions.

  Impact of a digital mindfulness and motor imagery intervention on pain and perceived function in 203 patients with musculoskeletal pain · 2026 · DOI

• The study was observational and not randomized. The sample size was limited for some sub-group analyses. The study relied on self-reported data. The study did not include a control group. The study was conducted using a digital intervention, which may not be generalizable to other types of interventions.

  Impact of a digital mindfulness and motor imagery intervention on pain and perceived function in 203 patients with musculoskeletal pain · 2026 · DOI

• The study faces challenges in terms of the complexity of the relationship between chronic pain and depression. The study also faces challenges in terms of the limited sample size and the cross-sectional design.

  Timing of depressive episode onset relative to chronic pain reveals distinct patterns of affective and multisite pain · 2026 · DOI

• Well-designed clinical trials are required to validate the efficacy and safety of these interventions, - The clinical translation of AGE crosslink breakers still faces many challenges, requiring further optimization of their pharmacokinetics and safety profiles

  Targeting advanced glycation end products: potential therapeutic approaches for mitigating diabetic intervertebral disc degeneration? · 2025 · DOI

• The study identifies technical challenges, such as the need for accurate measurement of WMSDs. The study identifies domain challenges, such as the need to understand the specific risk factors for WMSDs in the hospitality industry. The study identifies challenges in data collection, such as the need for a high response rate.

  Work-related musculoskeletal disorders: prevalence, associated factors, and impact on quality of life among kitchen workers in hospitality industry, Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023 · 2024 · DOI

• Further research is needed to examine alternative pathways by which proximal SES impact CP, - Research is needed to explore the association between life course SES and the odds of having CP, - Studies should investigate the underlying mechanisms mediating the relationship between life course SES and CP

  Life course socioeconomic status, chronic pain, and the mediating role of allostatic load: findings from the midlife in the United States · 2024 · DOI

• There is a lack of research exploring the association between life course socioeconomic status and the odds of having chronic pain. The underlying mechanisms mediating the relationship between socioeconomic status and chronic pain are not well understood.

  Life course socioeconomic status, chronic pain, and the mediating role of allostatic load: findings from the midlife in the United States · 2024 · DOI

• Traditional methods for assessing WMSDs risk have limitations. There is a need for an objective and comprehensive assessment of WMSDs risk. The proposed system aims to address this gap.

  A Novel IMU-Based System for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Risk Assessment · 2024 · DOI

• Inconsistent reporting of participation rates, - Infrequent blinding of assessors, - Lack of a-priori power calculations, - Limited number of high-quality studies

  A Rapid Review on the Effectiveness and Use of Wearable Biofeedback Motion Capture Systems in Ergonomics to Mitigate Adverse Postures and Movements of the Upper Body · 2024 · DOI

• Non-specific low back pain is multifactorial and lacks identifiable pathology. Movement alterations in the spine and pelvis are complex and difficult to quantify. The study required the development of a comprehensive analysis of spinal and pelvic movements using IMUs.

  Assessment of Spinal and Pelvic Kinematics Using Inertial Measurement Units in Clinical Subgroups of Persistent Non-Specific Low Back Pain · 2024 · DOI

• Further research is needed to investigate the use of IMUs in detecting specific kinematic patterns within NSLBP subgroups, - future studies could explore the use of IMUs in tailoring personalised rehabilitation interventions, - research could investigate the effectiveness of multiple IMUs in revealing movement variations across clinical NSLBP subgroups

  Assessment of Spinal and Pelvic Kinematics Using Inertial Measurement Units in Clinical Subgroups of Persistent Non-Specific Low Back Pain · 2024 · DOI

• The occlusion of reflective markers in OMC systems. The potential for anomalies in the proprietary sensor fusion algorithm or calibration of IMUs. The need for robust approaches for broader implementation of IMUs in clinical settings.

  Assessing the Reliability and Validity of Inertial Measurement Units to Measure Three-Dimensional Spine and Hip Kinematics During Clinical Movement Tasks · 2024 · DOI

• Development of more robust approaches for broader implementation of IMU systems. Evaluation of the reliability and validity of IMU systems for a wider range of movement tasks. Investigation of the effects of anomalies in the proprietary sensor fusion algorithm or calibration on RMSE values.

  Assessing the Reliability and Validity of Inertial Measurement Units to Measure Three-Dimensional Spine and Hip Kinematics During Clinical Movement Tasks · 2024 · DOI

• Broader validation, - Exploring the relative influence of various WMSDs risk factors

  A Novel IMU-Based System for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Risk Assessment · 2024 · DOI

• There exists a research gap regarding the current effectiveness of wearable biofeedback motion capture systems in real work environments and controlled settings. The ability of these systems to reduce postural exposure and retention effects over short, medium, and long durations is not well understood.

  A Rapid Review on the Effectiveness and Use of Wearable Biofeedback Motion Capture Systems in Ergonomics to Mitigate Adverse Postures and Movements of the Upper Body · 2024 · DOI

• By providing the first integrated evaluation of the transition from awareness to technology-driven intervention, this study fills a critical gap in the literature regarding the structural role of technology as a prevention support tool.

  Ergonomic Interventions and Technology in Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Sonographers (2000-2025): A Systematic Mapping Review · 2026 · DOI

• Although overall quality-of-life results were inconsistent, physical health may improve for up to six months (MD = 9.

  Does adding manual therapy improve long-term outcomes in patients with chronic neck pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation

• What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention · The Lancet · 2018 · 3,912 citations
• Standardised Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms · Applied Ergonomics · 1987 · 3,677 citations
• RULA: a survey method for the investigation of work-related upper limb disorders · Applied Ergonomics · 1993 · 2,455 citations
• Epidemiological features of chronic low-back pain · The Lancet · 1999 · 2,406 citations
• Non-specific low back pain · The Lancet · 2016 · 2,177 citations
• Prevention and treatment of low back pain: evidence, challenges, and promising directions · The Lancet · 2018 · 1,994 citations
• The Fear-Avoidance Model of Musculoskeletal Pain: Current State of Scientific Evidence · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · 2006 · 1,780 citations
• Global, regional, and national burden of low back pain, 1990–2020, its attributable risk factors, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 · The Lancet Rheumatology · 2023 · 1,558 citations
• Expenditures and Health Status Among Adults With Back and Neck Problems · JAMA · 2008 · 1,230 citations
• Lost Productive Time and Cost Due to Common Pain Conditions in the US Workforce · JAMA · 2003 · 1,185 citations

Most recent work

• Spine-centred integrated osteopathic management for multi-site degenerative musculoskeletal pain after conventional and traditional healing failure in a low-resource setting: a concept-driven case report · Frontiers in Musculoskeletal Disorders · 2026
• The impact of social support on pain intensity in older adults with chronic pain: the serial mediating roles of positive and negative affect and pain catastrophizing · BMC Geriatrics · 2026
• Ergonomic risks in healthcare workers in acute care; the POSTURE framework · Injury · 2026
• Exposure-based Interventions for Chronic Pain and Bodily Symptoms: A Special Interest Meeting Report · Behaviour Research and Therapy · 2026
• Evaluation of artificial‐intelligence‐enhanced video feedback to improve manufacturing workers' ergonomic postural behavior: A preliminary investigation · Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis · 2026
• Transforming chronic low back pain management in Bangladesh: implications for rehabilitation in low- and middle-income countries · Annals of Medicine & Surgery · 2026
• Effects of Tai Chi on pain, functional dysfunction, and sleep in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis · Frontiers in Pain Research · 2026
• Low Back Pain · JAMA · 2026
• Effectiveness of an individualised swimming and education programme for chronic low back pain (EduSwim): a randomised controlled trial · British Journal of Sports Medicine · 2026
• Effects of back-support passive exoskeletons on biomechanical loads and postural stability during simulated manual timber felling · Applied Ergonomics · 2026

Related topics in Medicine