Structured Abstract

Contents

• Key Messages
• Preface
• Investigator Affiliations
• Acknowledgments
• Technical Expert Panel
• Peer Reviewers
• Summary of Changes Since the Previous Report
• Evidence Summary
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • References
• Introduction
  • Background
  • Scope and Key Questions
• Methods
  • Topic Refinement and Review Protocol
  • Literature Search Strategy
  • Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria and Study Selection
  • Data Abstraction and Data Management
  • Quality (Risk of Bias) Assessment of Individual Studies
  • Data Analysis and Synthesis
  • Grading the Strength of Evidence for Major Comparisons and Outcomes
  • Assessing Applicability
  • Peer Review and Public Commentary
• Results
  • Introduction
  • Results of Literature Searches
  • Description of Included Studies
  • Key Question 1. Chronic Low Back Pain
  • Key Question 2. Chronic Neck Pain
  • Key Question 3. Osteoarthritis Pain
  • Key Question 4. Fibromyalgia
  • Key Question 5. Chronic Tension Headache
  • Key Question 6. Differential Efficacy
• Discussion
  • Key Findings and Strength of Evidence
  • Findings in Relationship to What Is Already Known
  • Applicability
  • Limitations of the Evidence Base
  • Implications for Clinical and Policy Decision Making
  • Limitations of the Systematic Review Process
  • Research Recommendations
  • Conclusions
• References
• Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Appendixes
  • Appendix A. Search Strategies
  • Appendix B. Included Studies
  • Appendix C. Excluded Studies
  • Appendix D. Evidence Table
  • Appendix E. Quality Assessment
  • Appendix F. Exercise Categories
  • Appendix G. Strength of Evidence
  • Appendix H. Definitions for Magnitude of Effects

Suggested citation:

Skelly AC, Chou R, Dettori JR, Turner JA, Friedly JL, Rundell SD, Fu R, Brodt ED, Wasson N, Kantner S, Ferguson AJR. Noninvasive Nonpharmacological Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review Update. Comparative Effectiveness Review No. 227. (Prepared by the Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-2015-00009-I.) AHRQ Publication No. 20-EHC009. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; April 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.23970/AHRQEPCCER227. Posted final reports are located on the Effective Health Care Program search page.

This report is based on research conducted by the Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Rockville, MD (Contract No. 290-2015-00009-I). The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the authors, who are responsible for its contents; the findings and conclusions do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. Therefore, no statement in this report should be construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

None of the investigators have any affiliations or financial involvement that conflicts with the material presented in this report.

The information in this report is intended to help healthcare decision makers—patients and clinicians, health system leaders, and policymakers, among others—make well-informed decisions and thereby improve the quality of healthcare services. This report is not intended to be a substitute for the application of clinical judgment. Anyone who makes decisions concerning the provision of clinical care should consider this report in the same way as any medical reference and in conjunction with all other pertinent information, i.e., in the context of available resources and circumstances presented by individual patients.

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This report may periodically be assessed for the currency of conclusions. If an assessment is done, the resulting surveillance report describing the methodology and findings will be found on the Effective Health Care Program website at www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov. Search on the title of the report.

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