How can we provide the best high-quality care for people with musculoskeletal complaints, particularly neck and low back pain, without exceeding the limits of our resources? With that question, Sidney Rubinstein opened his inaugural lecture on Thursday, April 24, as Professor of Optimizing Management of Musculoskeletal Health at VU Amsterdam.
Over 2 million people in the Netherlands suffer from neck and back pain. The Global Burden of Disease Study, a large-scale international study from 2019 that maps the global burden of disease, identifies low back pain as the most common condition leading to disability and limitations. Due to population aging, this societal issue is only expected to grow in the future. According to Rubinstein, significant progress can be made by choosing the most targeted approach in treating these complaints.“The demographic structure of the population is changing, which is putting increasing pressure on healthcare. That’s why it’s essential to gain insight into the effectiveness of treatments, so we can treat people more precisely and keep healthcare affordable in the long run,” he explains.
Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT)
Rubinstein’s appointment is for five years. “His research focuses on how to optimize care for musculoskeletal complaints.” In doing so, Rubinstein examines the effectiveness and cost of non-pharmacological interventions—treatments without medication—for musculoskeletal issues. One such intervention is spinal manipulative therapy, a treatment commonly used in chiropractic, osteopathy, and manual therapy. He also investigates how patients make healthcare decisions—based on factors such as cost, effectiveness, risk, and treatment duration—using innovative research methods like discrete choice experiments.
Knowledge from Practice
Rubinstein has been a researcher at the Department of Health Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam since 2008. He also brings thirty years of clinical experience as a chiropractor. Rubinstein sees this background as a valuable complement to his research work, as it helps him formulate relevant research questions that align with real-world healthcare practice. “I understand what’s happening with both patients and healthcare providers. As a clinical specialist, I see great added value in comparing practice with objective scientific standards, and in ensuring that research is both relevant and methodologically sound,” says Rubinstein.
The Special Chair ‘Optimizing Management of Musculoskeletal Health’ at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam was established by the Netherlands Chiropractic Association (NCA), where Rubinstein works. A special chair is created to strengthen specific fields of knowledge or societal themes within academic teaching and research. The external party has no influence over the content of teaching or research. A special professor operates fully in accordance with academic standards of scientific objectivity and integrity.