Dr. Sabina Margaret PINTO

• Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025-2027 (Postdoctoral Matching Fund Scheme) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Fellowship awarded competitively).
• Arnold Y.L. Wong, G. Michael Mallow, Sabina M. Pinto, Alexander L. Hornung, Samuel S. Rudisill, Khaled Aboushaala, Peter M. Udby, Howard S. An, Dino Samartzis. 2023. The efficacy and safety of oral antibiotic treatment in patients with chronic low back pain and Modic changes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. [Top viewed article in JOR Spine in 2023]
• Pinto SM, Zheng YP, Pang MYC, Cheung JPY, Karppinen J, Samartzis D, Wong AYL Factors Affecting Pain and Disability in People with Chronic Low back pain. Conference: The Hong Kong College of Orthopaedic Surgeons 15th Rehabilitation    Symposium 2021 [Best Paper in Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Award]
• The Merit Award (Social Entrepreneurship), The 5th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition 2019 (Pinto SM)

• Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
• Movement Science
• Functional Anatomy
• Orthopaedics Traumatology and Rheumatology
• Research Methods and Statistics

• Low Back Pain
• Chronic Pain
• Aging
• Psychological factors affecting Chronic Pain
• Rehabilitation

1. Pinto SM, Cheung JPY, Samartzis D, Karppinen J, Zheng YP, Pang MYC, Fortin M, Wong AYL. (2025). Relationship between lumbar multifidus morphometry and pain/disability in individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain after considering demographics, fear-avoidance beliefs, insomnia, and spinal degenerative changes. JOR Spine, 8(2), e70071. DOI: 10.1002/jsp2.70071 

2. Pinto SM, Cheung JPY, Samartzis D, Karppinen J, Zheng YP, Pang MYC, Wong AYL. (2022). Are Morphometric and Biomechanical Characteristics of Lumbar Multifidus Related to Pain Intensity or Disability in People with Chronic Low Back Pain After Considering Psychological Factors or Insomnia? Frontiers in Psychiatry 13, 809891. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.809891

3. Pinto SM, Boghra S, Macedo L, Zheng YP, Pang MYC, Cheung JPY, Karppinen J, Samartzis D, Wong AYL. (2021). Does Motor Control Exercise Restore Normal Morphology of Lumbar Multifidus Muscle in People with Low Back Pain? - A Systematic Review. Journal of Pain Research Volume, 2543-2562. DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S314971

4. Pinto SM, Cheung JPY, Samartzis D, Zheng YP, Karppinen J, Pang MYC, Wong AYL. (2020) Differences in proprioception between young and middle-aged adults with and without chronic low back pain. Frontiers in Neurology, 11, p.605787 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.605787

5. Chang JR, Cheung KY, Sharma S, Li SX, Tao RRY, Lee JLC, Sun ER, Pinto SM, Zhou Z, Fong H, Chan WWY, Zheng K a, Samartzis K, Fu SN, Wong AYL. (2024) Comparative effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions on sleep in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review with network meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 73, p.101867 DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2023.101867

6. Zheng DKY, Liu JQJ, Chang JR, Ng J, Zhou Z, Wu J, Cheung CKA, Huang FF, Pinto SM, Samartzis D, Ferreira ML, Ekanayake K, Lord S, Wang X, Wong AYL. (2024) Are changes in pain intensity related to changes in balance control in individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 100989. DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2024.100989

7. Wong, AYL, Mallow M, Pinto SM, Udy P, An HS, Samartzis D. (2023). The efficacy and safety of oral antibiotic treatment in patients with chronic low back pain and Modic changes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JOR Spine, 7(1), e1281. DOI: 10.1002/jsp2.1281

8. Chang JR, Fu SN, Li X, Li SN, Wang XY, Zhou ZX, Pinto SM, Samartzis D, Karppinen J, Wong AYL. (2022) The differential effects of sleep deprivation on pain perception in individuals with or without chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 66, 101695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2022.101695

9. Ng TKY, Kwok CKC, Ngan GYK, Wong HKH, Al Zoubi F, Tomkins-Lane C, Yau SY, Samartzis D, Pinto SM, Fu SN, Li H, Wong AYL. (2022) Differential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity involvements and exercise habits in people with and without chronic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 103(7), 1448-1465. DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2022.03.011

10. Zhou Z, Hui ES, Kranz GS, Chang JR, Katie de Luca d, Pinto SM, Chan WWY, Yau SY, Chau BKH, Samartzis D, Jensen MP, Wong AYL. (2022) Potential mechanisms underlying the accelerated cognitive decline in people with chronic low back pain: A scoping review. Ageing Research Reviews, 82, 101767. DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101767

11. Chang JR, Wang X, Lin G, Samartzis D, Pinto SM, Wong AYL. (2021) Are changes in sleep quality/quantity or baseline sleep parameters related to changes in clinical outcomes in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain? A systematic review. Clinical Journal of Pain;38: 292-307. DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000001008

Community Contributions:

• Certified Community Interpreter

Professional Contributions:

• Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Collaborator
• Reviewer for International Journals: JOR Spine (Wiley)
• Frontiers in Pain Research (Frontiers)