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Search review questions

Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

1,956 questions in 143 reviews · Musculoskeletal

current versions
No studies 555 · 28.4%Ungraded 107 · 5.5%Very low 255 · 13%Low 555 · 28.4%Moderate 357 · 18.3%High 127 · 6.5%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Massage + ultrasound and placebo ointment vs ultrasound + placebo ointment only
Pain Visual analog scale Scale from 0 to 100 (lower is better) · patients with extensor carpi radialis tendinitis
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 20 participantsVery low
Massage + phonophoresis vs phonophoresis alone
Function Visual analog scale Scale from 0 to 100 (higher is better) · patients with extensor carpi radialis tendinitis
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 20 participantsVery low
Massage + phonophoresis vs phonophoresis alone
Quality of life not measured · patients with extensor carpi radialis tendinitis
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Massage + phonophoresis vs phonophoresis alone
Patient global assessment of success not measured · patients with extensor carpi radialis tendinitis
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Massage + phonophoresis vs phonophoresis alone
Adverse events not measured · patients with extensor carpi radialis tendinitis
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Massage + phonophoresis vs phonophoresis alone
Withdrawals due to adverse events not measured · patients with extensor carpi radialis tendinitis
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Deep transverse massage + physical therapy vs physical therapy alone
Daily pain Visual analog scale (VAS) Scale from 0 to 10 (lower is better) · patients with iliotibial band friction syndrome (knee tendinitis)
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 17 participantsVery low
Deep transverse massage + physical therapy vs physical therapy alone
Proportion reporting pain relief of 30% or greater not measured · patients with iliotibial band friction syndrome (knee tendinitis)
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Deep transverse massage + physical therapy vs physical therapy alone
Function not measured · patients with iliotibial band friction syndrome (knee tendinitis)
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Deep transverse massage + physical therapy vs physical therapy alone
Quality of life not measured · patients with iliotibial band friction syndrome (knee tendinitis)
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Deep transverse massage + physical therapy vs physical therapy alone
Patient global assessment not measured · patients with iliotibial band friction syndrome (knee tendinitis)
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Massage + ultrasound and placebo ointment vs ultrasound + placebo ointment only
Proportion reporting pain relief of 30% or greater not measured · patients with extensor carpi radialis tendinitis
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Deep transverse massage + physical therapy vs physical therapy alone
Adverse events not measured · patients with iliotibial band friction syndrome (knee tendinitis)
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Deep transverse massage + physical therapy vs physical therapy alone
Withdrawals due to adverse events · patients with iliotibial band friction syndrome (knee tendinitis)
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Massage + ultrasound and placebo ointment vs ultrasound + placebo ointment only
Function Visual analog function index Scale from 0 to 100 (higher is better) · patients with extensor carpi radialis tendinitis
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 20 participantsVery low
Massage + ultrasound and placebo ointment vs ultrasound + placebo ointment only
Quality of life—not measured · patients with extensor carpi radialis tendinitis
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Massage + ultrasound and placebo ointment vs ultrasound + placebo ointment only
Patient global assessment of success not measured · patients with extensor carpi radialis tendinitis
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Massage + ultrasound and placebo ointment vs ultrasound + placebo ointment only
Adverse events not measured · patients with extensor carpi radialis tendinitis
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Massage + ultrasound and placebo ointment vs ultrasound + placebo ointment only
Withdrawals due to adverse events not measured · patients with extensor carpi radialis tendinitis
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Massage + phonophoresis vs phonophoresis alone
Pain Visual analog scale Scale from 0 to 100 (lower is better) · patients with extensor carpi radialis tendinitis
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 20 participantsVery low
Massage + phonophoresis vs phonophoresis alone
Proportion reporting pain relief of 30% or greater not measured · patients with extensor carpi radialis tendinitis
Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Other types of high tibial osteotomy (aHTO) vs closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CW‐HTO)
Treatment failure rate · people with knee osteoarthritis
Osteotomy for treating knee osteoarthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CW‐HTO) vs unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
Function · people with knee osteoarthritis
Osteotomy for treating knee osteoarthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CW‐HTO) vs unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
Health‐related quality of life measures Participant opinion: improvement · people with knee osteoarthritis
Osteotomy for treating knee osteoarthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CW‐HTO) vs unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
Adverse events · people with knee osteoarthritis
Osteotomy for treating knee osteoarthritis (2014) · Cochrane
RR 0.25 [0.06, 1.08]1 study · 60 participantsVery low
Closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CW‐HTO) vs unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
Mortality · people with knee osteoarthritis
Osteotomy for treating knee osteoarthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CW‐HTO) vs unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
Reoperation rate · people with knee osteoarthritis
Osteotomy for treating knee osteoarthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Other types of high tibial osteotomy (aHTO) vs closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CW‐HTO)
Pain · people with knee osteoarthritis
Osteotomy for treating knee osteoarthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 216 participantsLow
Other types of high tibial osteotomy (aHTO) vs closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CW‐HTO)
Function · people with knee osteoarthritis
Osteotomy for treating knee osteoarthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 216 participantsLow
Other types of high tibial osteotomy (aHTO) vs closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CW‐HTO)
Health‐related quality of life measures · people with knee osteoarthritis
Osteotomy for treating knee osteoarthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Other types of high tibial osteotomy (aHTO) vs closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CW‐HTO)
Serious adverse events · people with knee osteoarthritis
Osteotomy for treating knee osteoarthritis (2014) · Cochrane
RR 2.49 [0.64, 9.75]4 studies · 265 participantsLow
Other types of high tibial osteotomy (aHTO) vs closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CW‐HTO)
Mortality · people with knee osteoarthritis
Osteotomy for treating knee osteoarthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Other types of high tibial osteotomy (aHTO) vs closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CW‐HTO)
Reoperation rate · people with knee osteoarthritis
Osteotomy for treating knee osteoarthritis (2014) · Cochrane
RR 2.58 [1.49, 4.45]4 studies · 224 participantsLow
Closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CW‐HTO) vs unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
Treatment failure rate · people with knee osteoarthritis
Osteotomy for treating knee osteoarthritis (2014) · Cochrane
RR 1.32 [0.94, 1.87]1 study · 60 participantsVery low
Closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CW‐HTO) vs unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
Pain · people with knee osteoarthritis
Osteotomy for treating knee osteoarthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Primary comparison for continuous passive motion (CPM) vs no CPM
Active knee flexion ROM Goniometer. Scale: 0 to 130 · hospitalised patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery
Continuous passive motion following total knee arthroplasty in people with arthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted10 studies · 470 participantsModerate
Primary comparison for continuous passive motion (CPM) vs no CPM
Pain Visual analogue scale. Scale: 0 to 10 (lower score better) · hospitalised patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery
Continuous passive motion following total knee arthroplasty in people with arthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted8 studies · 414 participantsLow
Primary comparison for continuous passive motion (CPM) vs no CPM
Function Various. Scale: 0 to 100 (higher score better) · hospitalised patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery
Continuous passive motion following total knee arthroplasty in people with arthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 405 participantsModerate
Primary comparison for continuous passive motion (CPM) vs no CPM
Quality of life SF‐12. Scale from: 0 to 100 (higher score better). · hospitalised patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery
Continuous passive motion following total knee arthroplasty in people with arthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 156 participantsModerate
Primary comparison for continuous passive motion (CPM) vs no CPM
Participants' global assessment of treatment effectiveness Questionnaire. Scale: 0 to 7 · hospitalised patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery
Continuous passive motion following total knee arthroplasty in people with arthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 211 participantsVery low
Primary comparison for continuous passive motion (CPM) vs no CPM
Manipulation under anaesthesia Counts of manipulation under anaesthesia · hospitalised patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery
Continuous passive motion following total knee arthroplasty in people with arthritis (2014) · Cochrane
RR 0.34 [0.13, 0.89]8 studies · 581 participantsVery low
Primary comparison for continuous passive motion (CPM) vs no CPM
Adverse events Counts of adverse events · hospitalised patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery
Continuous passive motion following total knee arthroplasty in people with arthritis (2014) · Cochrane
RR 0.92 [0.63, 1.33]16 studies · 1040 participantsLow
Sulfasalazine vs placebo
Back pain (pooled data) · Patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Sulfasalazine for ankylosing spondylitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 454 participantsModerate
Sulfasalazine vs placebo
Mean improvement in Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) ‐ not reported · Patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Sulfasalazine for ankylosing spondylitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Sulfasalazine vs placebo
Mean improvement in Bath ankylosing spondylitis function index (BASFI) ‐ not reported · Patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Sulfasalazine for ankylosing spondylitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Sulfasalazine vs placebo
Mean improvement in Bath ankylosing spondylitis metrology index (BASMI) ‐ not reported · Patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Sulfasalazine for ankylosing spondylitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Sulfasalazine vs placebo
Radiographic progress ‐ not reported · Patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Sulfasalazine for ankylosing spondylitis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Sulfasalazine vs placebo
Total number of withdrawals due to adverse events · Patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Sulfasalazine for ankylosing spondylitis (2014) · Cochrane
RR 1.43 [1.04, 1.94]11 studies · 895 participantsModerate
Sulfasalazine vs placebo
Serious adverse events · Patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Sulfasalazine for ankylosing spondylitis (2014) · Cochrane
OR 7.5 [0.15, 378.16]1 study · 264 participantsModerate
Diacerein vs placebo
Pain overall visual analogue scale for pain Scale from: 0 to 100 · participants with osteoarthritis
Diacerein for osteoarthritis (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1283 participantsLow