title: Effectiveness of Global Postural Re-education for Treatment of Spinal Disorders: A Meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of global postural re-education (GPR) on the treatment of spinal disorders by performing a systematic review and a meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE, Scopus, and PEDro databases were searched without language or publication date restrictions. Data on pain and function were used to evaluate the effectiveness of GPR. Randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials analyzing the effectiveness of GPR on spinal disorders were selected. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated. The meta-analysis was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-analysis 3.3 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven randomized controlled trials and 4 controlled clinical trials were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed a medium improvement on pain (SMD = -0.63; 95% CI, -0.43 to -0.83) and function (SMD = -0.48; 95% CI, -0.25 to -0.72) after GPR treatment. The positive effect, which was greater in patients with ankylosing spondylitis followed by low back pain and neck pain, was more significant during the intermediate follow-up than immediately after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis provides reliable evidence that GPR may be an effective method for treating spinal disorders by decreasing pain and improving function.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Health Science, University of Jaén, Jaén (RL-V); Center "El Carmen" of PRODE (Asociación para la promoción de las Personas con Discapacidad en Córdoba), Córdoba (MVG-J); Department of Cellular Biology, University of Granada, Granada (AR); and Department of Nursing, University of Jaén, Jaén (RP-C), Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lomas-Vega
authors.forename: María Victoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Garrido-Jaut
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rus
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Del-Pino-Casado
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*