Research Publications

PhD Synopsis

Thesis: The relationship between sleep and pain in people with lower limb osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain

Supervisors: A/Prof Milena Simic, Prof Paulo Ferreira, Dr Marina Pinheiro

Project 1: Sleep interventions for osteoarthritis and spinal pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (Published)

- Collaboration with leaders from the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research

Project 2: Efficacy of an online cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia in people with low back pain: a feasibility randomized co-twin and singleton-controlled trial (Under Review)

- Collaboration with leaders from Twins Research Australia, Institute of Bone and Joint Research, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The George Institute for Global Health, Erasmus MC (Netherlands), and University of Murcia.

Project 3: The association between insomnia, c-reactive protein, and chronic low back pain: cross-sectional analysis of the HUNT study, Norway (Published)

- Four weeks overseas collaboration with the FORMI research team, Oslo University Hospital, Norway.

Project 4: The associations between sleep, c-reactive protein and chronic low back pain and lower limb osteoarthritis: longitudinal analysis of the Tromsø Cohort Study, Norway (Under review)

- Collaboration with Oslo University Hospital, Norwegian University of Science and Technology and Arctic University of Norway

Published Journal Articles

1. Ho KKN, Ferreira PH, Pinheiro MB, Aquino Silva D, Miller CB, Grunstein R, Simic M. Sleep interventions for osteoarthritis and spinal pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2019;27(2):196-218. (Impact Factor = 5.454)

· High Impact Journal Publication in the field of Osteoarthritis: Impact Factor = 5.454. Altmetric Attention Score = 28. Findings support the biopsychosocial and multidisciplinary approach to care taught in the Discipline and adopted in the community health. Findings have also been introduced into the curriculum for low back pain and osteoarthritis. Two radio interviews (ultra106.5 Hobart, SBS Radio Cantonese) and one online article (Sydney News and Opinion Media Release)

2. Ho KKN, Simic M, Cvancarova Småstuen M, Pinheiro MB, Ferreira PH, Bakke Johnsen M, Heuch I, Grotle M, Zwart JA, Nilsen KB. The association between insomnia, c-reactive protein, and chronic low back pain: cross-sectional analysis of the HUNT study, Norway. Scandinavian Journal of Pain, (Epub ahead of Print) 2019.

· Impact Factor = 1.5. Altmetric Attention Score = 19. First paper to link insomnia, chronic low back pain and inflammation within the same study and cohort. Found that individuals with insomnia have twice the odds of reporting chronic LBP. Discover that while insomnia, CRP and chronic LBP appear to be linked, the role of CRP appears to be limited.

3. Pinheiro M, Ho K, Ferreira M, Refshauge K, Grunstein R, Hopper J, Maher C, Koes B, Ordoñana JR, Ferreira P. Efficacy Of A Sleep Quality Intervention In People With Low Back Pain: Protocol For A Feasibility Randomized Co-Twin Controlled Trial. Twins Research and Human Genetics, 2016: Oct;19(5):492-501

· Impact Factor=1.5. Altmetric Attention Score = 4. A novel trial which employs a robust design that will effectively control for the influence of genetics on treatment effect. Feasibility results of this study is under journal peer-review. This trial incorporated the use of digital health in Australia, and the digital program (Sleepio) is currently freely available under the UK’s National Health Scheme.

4. McGee C, Ho KK. Opinion: Tendinopathies in Esports. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living (Article Accepted).

· This novel article detailed to non-health professionals engaged in the esport industry why tendinopathies are likely to affect esports competitors and proposed specific areas for additional research.

Conference Presentations

1. Ho KKN, Ferreira PH, Pinheiro MB, Aquino Silva D, Miller CB, Grunstein R, Simic M. Sleep interventions for osteoarthritis and spinal pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. International Neck and Back Pain Forum 2017. (Poster Presentation Winner)

2. Ho K, Pinheiro M, Ferreira M, Refshauge K, Grunstein R, Hopper J, Maher C, Koes B, Ordoñana JR, Ferreira P. Efficacy of a Sleep Quality Intervention for People with Low Back Pain: Feasibility Randomized Co-Twin Controlled Trial. Sydney Musculoskeletal, Bone and Joint Health Alliance Annual Scientific Meeting 2017 (Oral Presentation Shortlisted Winner)

3. Ho KK, Pinheiro M, Ferreira M, Refshauge K, Grunstein R, Hopper J, Maher C, Koes B, Ordoñana JR, Ferreira P. Efficacy of a Sleep Quality Intervention for People with Low Back Pain: Feasibility Randomized Co-Twin Controlled Trial. eHealth@Sydney 2020

4. Ho KK, Pinheiro M, Ferreira M, Refshauge K, Grunstein R, Hopper J, Maher C, Koes B, Ordoñana JR, Ferreira P. Efficacy of a Sleep Quality Intervention for People with Low Back Pain: Feasibility Randomized Co-Twin Controlled Trial. Sydney Musculoskeletal, Bone and Joint Health Alliance Annual Scientific Meeting 2019

5. Ho KK, Nilsen KB, Ferreira PH, Pinheiro MB, Hopstock L, Steingrimsdottir OA, Nielsen CS, Stubhaug A, Simic M. The associations between sleep, c-reactive protein and chronic low back pain and lower limb osteoarthritis: longitudinal analysis of the Tromsø Cohort Study, Norway. Sydney Musculoskeletal, Bone and Joint Health Alliance Annual Scientific Meeting 2019

6. Ho KK, Simic M, Cvancarova Småstuen M, Pinheiro MB, Ferreira PH, Johnsen MB, Heuch I, Grotle M, Zwart JA, Nilsen KB. The association between insomnia, high sensitive C-reactive protein, and chronic low back pain: cross-sectional analysis of the hunt study, Norway. Osteoarthritis and cartilage 2019;27:S457-S458. Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) World Congress 2019

7. Ho KKN, Ferreira PH, Pinheiro MB, Aquino Silva D, Miller CB, Grunstein R, Simic M. Sleep interventions for osteoarthritis and spinal pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Sydney Musculoskeletal, Bone and Joint Health Alliance Annual Scientific Meeting 2018

8. Ho KKN, Ferreira PH, Pinheiro MB, Aquino Silva D, Miller CB, Grunstein R, Simic M. Sleep interventions for osteoarthritis and spinal pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. 4th Charles Perkins Centre Early and Mid-Career Researchers Symposium 2018

9. Ho KK, Simic M, Cvancarova Småstuen M, Pinheiro MB, Ferreira PH, Johnsen MB, Heuch I, Grotle M, Zwart JA, Nilsen KB. The association between insomnia, high sensitive C-reactive protein, and chronic low back pain: cross-sectional analysis of the hunt study, Norway. International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) World Congress 2018

10. Ferreira P, Ferreira M, Pinheiro M, Zadro J, Dario A, Amorim A, Fernandez M, Ho K. We might be getting it wrong if we do not consider genetics in osteoarthritis and back pain: insights from twin studies. Osteoarthritis and cartilage 2018;26:S264. Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) World Congress 2018

11. Ferreira PH, Ho KK, Pinheiro MB, Aquino Silva D, Miller C, Grunstein R, Simic M. Sleep interventions for osteoarthritis and spinal pain: a systematic review of randomized control trials. Osteoarthritis and cartilage 2018;26:S243. Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) World Congress 2018

12. Ho KKN, Ferreira PH, Pinheiro MB, Aquino Silva D, Miller CB, Grunstein R, Simic M. Sleep interventions for osteoarthritis and spinal pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Musculoskeletal Network Forum 2018

13. Ho K, Pinheiro M, Ferreira M, Refshauge K, Grunstein R, Hopper J, Maher C, Koes B, Ordoñana JR, Ferreira P. Efficacy of a Sleep Quality Intervention for People with Low Back Pain: Feasibility Randomized Co-Twin Controlled Trial. International Neck and Back Pain Forum 2017.

14. Aquino Silva D, Ho KKN, Ferreira PH, Pinheiro MB, Miller CB, Grunstein R, Simic M. Sleep interventions for osteoarthritis and spinal pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. International Congress of Physiotherapy 2017

15. Pinheiro M, Ferreira M, Refshauge K, Grunstein R, Hopper J, Maher C, Koes B, Ordoñana JR, Ho K, Ferreira P. Is a sleep intervention effective for low back pain when genetics is considered? Study protocol of a randomised co-twin trial. Australian Physiotherapy Association Conference Abstract E-Book 2015; 121.

16. Pinheiro M, Ho K, Ferreira M, Refshauge K, Grunstein R, Hopper J, Maher C, Koes B, Ordoñana JR, Ferreira P. Is a sleep intervention effective for low back pain when genetics is considered? Study protocol of a randomised co-twin trial. Chiropractors’ Association of Australia (NSW) Annual Scientific Symposium 2015.