Associate Professor Adrian Traeger
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Associate Professor Adrian Traeger

Senior Research Fellow
School of Public Health
Associate Professor Adrian Traeger

Adrian Traeger is Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, a division of the School of Public Health, University of Sydney. He is an experienced physiotherapist who completed his doctorate at NeuRA, UNSW, which focused on how best to reassure patients with low back pain.

Adrian’s research focuses on developing strategies to improve healthcare for low back pain and other musculoskeletal conditions. He is currently investigating ways to reduce unnecessary diagnostic imaging and opioid medicines for low back pain. Other interests include overdiagnosis and overtreatment, communicating research evidence to healthcare consumers, and evidence-based practice.

2023 University of Sydney Robinson Fellow

2022 Australian Pain Society 'Rising Star' Award for Early Career Research Performance

NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow

Project titleResearch student
Applying behavioural economics to reduce low-value healthcareGemma ALTINGER
Evaluation of a virtual fracture clinic to manage patients with simple fractures.Rowena CHARTERIS
Delivering a virtual fracture clinic to improve the health journey of patients with simple fracturesMin Jiat TENG

Publications

Journals

  • Vo, J., Gray, S., Traeger, A., Di Donato, M. (2024). Can General Practitioner Opioid Prescribing to Compensated Workers with Low Back Pain Be Detected Using Administrative Payments Data? An Exploratory Study. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. [More Information]
  • O'Hagan, E., Traeger, A., Schabrun, S., O'Neill, S., Wand, B., Cashin, A., Williams, C., Harris, I., McAuley, J. (2024). It's OK to Move! Effect of a Brief Video on Community Confidence in Activity Despite Back Pain: A Randomized Trial. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 54(6), 1-8. [More Information]
  • Rizzo, R., Wand, B., Leake, H., O'Hagan, E., Bagg, M., Bunzli, S., Traeger, A., Gustin, S., Moseley, G., Sharma, S., et al (2023). "My Back is Fit for Movement": A Qualitative Study Alongside a Randomized Controlled Trial for Chronic Low Back Pain. The Journal of Pain, 24(5), 824-839. [More Information]

2024

  • Vo, J., Gray, S., Traeger, A., Di Donato, M. (2024). Can General Practitioner Opioid Prescribing to Compensated Workers with Low Back Pain Be Detected Using Administrative Payments Data? An Exploratory Study. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. [More Information]
  • O'Hagan, E., Traeger, A., Schabrun, S., O'Neill, S., Wand, B., Cashin, A., Williams, C., Harris, I., McAuley, J. (2024). It's OK to Move! Effect of a Brief Video on Community Confidence in Activity Despite Back Pain: A Randomized Trial. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 54(6), 1-8. [More Information]

2023

  • Rizzo, R., Wand, B., Leake, H., O'Hagan, E., Bagg, M., Bunzli, S., Traeger, A., Gustin, S., Moseley, G., Sharma, S., et al (2023). "My Back is Fit for Movement": A Qualitative Study Alongside a Randomized Controlled Trial for Chronic Low Back Pain. The Journal of Pain, 24(5), 824-839. [More Information]
  • Ferreira, G., Zadro, J., Traeger, A., Jones, C., West, C., O'Keeffe, M., Jenkins, H., McAuley, J., Maher, C. (2023). Adding Brief Pain Science or Ergonomics Messages to Guideline Advice Did Not Increase Feelings of Reassurance in People With Acute Low Back Pain: A Randomized Experiment. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 53(12), 1-11. [More Information]
  • Kharel, P., Zadro, J., Chen, Z., Himbury, M., Traeger, A., Linklater, J., Maher, C. (2023). Awareness and use of five imaging decision rules for musculoskeletal injuries: a systematic review. International Journal of Emergency Medicine, 16(1), 85. [More Information]

2022

  • Mathieson, S., O'Keeffe, M., Traeger, A., Ferreira, G., Abdel Shaheed, C. (2022). Content and sentiment analysis of gabapentinoid-related tweets: An infodemiology study. Drug and Alcohol Review. [More Information]
  • O'Hagan, E., Skinner, I., Jones, M., Karran, E., Traeger, A., Cashin, A., Wand, B., Schabrun, S., O'Neill, S., Harris, I., et al (2022). Development and measurement properties of the AxEL (attitude toward education and advice for low-back-pain) questionnaire. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 20(1), 4-1-4-13. [More Information]
  • Blokzijl, J., Lee, H., Cullen, L., Coggins, A., Golding, M., Gillett, M., Middleton, P., Ferreira, G., MacHado, G., Maher, C., et al (2022). Diagnoses and trends in use of imaging for low back pain in four Australian emergency departments between 2012 and 2019. EMA - Emergency Medicine Australasia, 34(4), 539-546. [More Information]

2021

  • Sharma, S., Traeger, A., Tcharkhedian, E., Harrison, J., Hersch, J., Pickles, K., Harris, I., Maher, C. (2021). "I would not go to him": Focus groups exploring community responses to a public health campaign aimed at reducing unnecessary diagnostic imaging of low back pain. Health Expectations, 24(2), 648-658. [More Information]
  • Traeger, A., De Carvalho Machado, G., Bath, S., Tran, M., Roper, L., Oliveira, C., Peek, A., Coombs, D., Hall, A., Tcharkhedian, E., Maher, C. (2021). Appropriateness of Imaging Decisions for Low Back Pain Presenting to the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Chart Review Study. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 33(3), mzab103. [More Information]
  • Tamrakar, M., Kharel, P., Traeger, A., Maher, C., O'Keeffe, M., Ferreira, G. (2021). Completeness and quality of low back pain prevalence data in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. BMJ Global Health, 6(5), e005847. [More Information]

2020

  • Cashin, A., Lee, H., Bagg, M., O'Hagan, E., Traeger, A., Kamper, S., Folly, T., Jones, M., Booth, J., McAuley, J. (2020). A systematic review highlights the need to improve the quality and applicability of trials of physical therapy interventions for low back pain. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 126, 106-115. [More Information]
  • Sharma, S., Traeger, A., Reed, B., Hamilton, M., O'Connor, D., Hoffmann, T., Bonner, C., Buchbinder, R., Maher, C. (2020). Clinician and patient beliefs about diagnostic imaging for low back pain: a systematic qualitative evidence synthesis. BMJ Open, 10(8), 1-9. [More Information]
  • Sharma, S., Traeger, A., Maher, C. (2020). Efficacy of spinal cord stimulation: uncertain at best. Pain, 161(10), 2428-2429. [More Information]

2019

  • Traeger, A., Buchbinder, R., Harris, I., Clavisi, O., Maher, C. (2019). Avoid routinely prescribing medicines for non-specific low back pain. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(3), 196-199. [More Information]
  • O'Keeffe, M., Traeger, A., Hoffman, T., Ferreira, G., Soon, J., Maher, C. (2019). Can nudge-interventions address health service overuse and underuse? Protocol for a systematic review. BMJ Open, 9(6), 1-7. [More Information]
  • Traeger, A., Buchbinder, R., Elshaug, A., Croft, P., Maher, C. (2019). Care for low back pain: can health systems deliver? Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 97(6), 423-433. [More Information]

2018

  • Oliveira, C., Maher, C., Pinto, R., Traeger, A., Lin, C., Chenot, J., van Tulder, M., Koes, B. (2018). Clinical practice guidelines for the management of non-specific low back pain in primary care: an updated overview. European Spine Journal, 27(11), 2791-2803. [More Information]
  • Traeger, A., Reed, B., O'Connor, D., Hoffmann, T., De Carvalho Machado, G., Bonner, C., Maher, C., Buchbinder, R. (2018). Clinician, patient and general public beliefs about diagnostic imaging for low back pain: protocol for a qualitative evidence synthesis. BMJ Open, 8(2), e019470. [More Information]
  • Yamoto, T., Maher, C., Traeger, A., Wiliams, C., Kamper, S. (2018). Do schoolbags cause back pain in children and adolescents? A systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(19), 1241-1245. [More Information]

2017

  • Traeger, A., Skinner, I., Hubscher, M., Lee, H., Moseley, G., Nicholas, M., Henschke, N., Refshauge, K., Blyth, F., Main, C., Lo, S., et al (2017). A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of patient education for acute low back pain (PREVENT Trial): statistical analysis plan. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy, 21(3), 219-223. [More Information]
  • Lee, H., Hubscher, M., Moseley, G., Kamper, S., Traeger, A., Skinner, I., Williams, C., McAuley, J. (2017). An embedded randomised controlled trial of a Teaser Campaign to optimise recruitment in primary care. Clinical Trials, 14(2), 162-169. [More Information]
  • Karran, E., McAuley, J., Traeger, A., Hillier, S., Grabherr, L., Russek, L., Moseley, G. (2017). Can screening instruments accurately determine poor outcome risk in adults with recent onset low back pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Medicine, 15(1), 1-15. [More Information]

2016

  • Lee, H., McAuley, J., Hubscher, M., Kamper, S., Traeger, A., Moseley, G. (2016). Does changing pain-related knowledge reduce pain and improve function through changes in catastrophizing? Pain, 157(4), 922-930. [More Information]
  • Traeger, A., Hubscher, M., Henschke, N., Williams, C., Maher, C., Moseley, G., Lee, H., McAuley, J. (2016). Emotional distress drives health services overuse in patients with acute low back pain: a longitudinal observational study. European Spine Journal, 25(9), 2767-2773. [More Information]
  • Traeger, A., Henschke, N., Hubscher, M., Williams, C., Kamper, S., Maher, C., Moseley, G., McAuley, J. (2016). Estimating the Risk of Chronic Pain: Development and Validation of a Prognostic Model (PICKUP) for Patients with Acute Low Back Pain. PLoS Medicine, 13(5), 1-21. [More Information]

2015

  • Traeger, A., Henschke, N., Hubscher, M., Williams, C., Kamper, S., Maher, C., Moseley, G., McAuley, J. (2015). Development and validation of a screening tool to predict the risk of chronic low back pain in patients presenting with acute low back pain: a study protocol. BMJ Open, 5(7), 1-7. [More Information]
  • Traeger, A., Hubscher, M., Henschke, N., Moseley, G., Lee, H., McAuley, J. (2015). Effect of primary care based education on reassurance in patients with acute low back pain systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Internal Medicine, 175(5), 733-743. [More Information]
  • Lee, H., Hübscher, M., Moseley, G., Kamper, S., Traeger, A., Mansell, G., McAuley, J. (2015). How does pain lead to disability? A systematic review and meta-analysis of mediation studies in people with back and neck pain. Pain, 156(6), 988-997. [More Information]

2014

  • Huebscher, M., Moloney, N., Rebbeck, T., Traeger, A., Refshauge, K. (2014). Contributions of Mood, Pain Catastrophizing, and Cold Hyperalgesia in Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain - A Comparison With Pain-Free Controls. Clinical Journal of Pain, 30(10), 886-893. [More Information]
  • Traeger, A., Moseley, G., Hubscher, M., Lee, H., Skinner, I., Nicholas, M., Henschke, N., Refshauge, K., Blyth, F., Main, C., et al (2014). Pain education to prevent chronic low back pain: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 4(6), 1-7. [More Information]

Selected Grants

2023

  • Rewarding Research 2024, Traeger A, Faculty of Medicine and Health/FMH Rewarding Research Success
  • Restructuring musculoskeletal health services to ensure equitable access to effective, affordable allied health care, Zadro J, Maher C, De Carvalho Machado G, Traeger A, Buchbinder R, Harris I, Shaw T, Harvey L, Ackerman I, Richards B, Abdel Shaheed C, Mathieson S, Swain M, Anderson D, Coombs D, Department of Health and Aged Care (Federal - administered by NHMRC)/MRFF CRI 2022 Clinician Researchers: Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health

2022

  • CAPACITY: A telehealth, effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial toincrease physical activity in adults with chronic low back pain, Williams C, Jones M, Stamatakis E, McAuley J, Schutte A, Moseley G, Refshauge K, Smith L, Traeger A, Parmenter B, Cashin A, Ferreira M, Peters R, Goodall S, Department of Health and Aged Care (Federal - administered by NHMRC)/MRFF - 2022 Effective Treatments and Therapies
  • The NOTUS trial (NOn-pharmacological Treatment for chronic low back pain USing digital health technology), McAuley J, Rizzo R, Moseley G, Williams C, Traeger A, Cashin A, Maher C, Goodall S, De Carvalho Machado G, Gustin S, Sharpe L, Byambasuren O, McCaffery K, Lin Yoong S, Department of Health and Aged Care (Federal - administered by NHMRC)/2021 Primary Health Care Digital Innovations
  • FMH Showcase Travel Award 2023, Traeger A, Faculty of Medicine and Health/FMH Showcase Travel Award 2023
  • NUDG-ED: Trial of behavioural nudging interventions to reduce unnecessary care for low back pain in the Emergency Department, Traeger A, Maher C, Cullen L, McCaffery K, Linder J, Buchbinder R, Harris I, Coiera E, Li Q, Howard K, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies

In the media

ABC News (16 Dec 2024)

ABC News (29 April 2024)

Four Corners (4 Apr 2024)

Sydney Morning Herald (27 Dec 2023)

The Australian (20 Dec 2023)

Medical Republic (5 Oct 2023)

ABC Sydney (28 Oct 2022)

Sydney Morning Herald (27 Oct 2022)

Channel 7 News (6 Nov 2018)

The Health Report with Dr. Norman Swan (12 Nov 2018)

Channel 7 News(13 Nov 2017)

The Age (13 Nov 2017)

The Health Report with Dr. Norman Swan(1 Feb 2016)

The Medical Republic(21 June 2016)

Medical Observer (17 April 2015)

Related research articles

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