How to conduct and report checking transitivity and inconsistency in network-meta-analysis: a narrative review including practical worked examples, code and source data for sports and exercise medicine researchers.

The use of network meta-analysis (NMA) in sport and exercise medicine (SEM) research continues to rise as it enables the comparison of multiple interventions that may not have been assessed in a single randomised controlled trial. NMA can then inform clinicians on potentially better interventions. Despite the increased use of NMA, we have observed that in the SEM field, a key challenge for author groups can be the assessment and reporting of key assumptions, in particular transitivity and consistency.

Are some people more susceptible to placebos? A systematic review and meta-analysis of inter-individual variability in musculoskeletal pain.

Existing data suggest placebo responses to treatments are small, but some people may be more likely to respond. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on interindividual variability in response to placebo interventions MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, CENTRAL, and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception to September 2023. Trial registry searches, citation tracking, and searches for prior systematic reviews were completed.

DOSage of Exercise for chronic low back pain disorders (DOSE): protocol for a systematic review with dose-response network meta-analysis.

Chronic low back disorders are the leading cause of direct and indirect healthcare burden globally. Exercise training improves pain intensity, mental health and physical function. However, the optimal prescription variables are unknown.

Boosting treatment outcomes via the patient-practitioner relationship, treatment-beliefs or therapeutic setting. A systematic review with meta-analysis of contextual effects in chronic musculoskeletal pain.

To ascertain whether manipulating contextual effects (e.g. interaction with patients, or beliefs about treatments) boosted the outcomes of non-pharmacological and non-surgicaltreatments for chronic primary musculoskeletal pain.