In the wake of NASSJ receiving its first Impact Factor, interest in the journal has never been higher. We’re spotlighting the most read articles from the past month, each offering insights for spine care professionals and reflecting the journal’s commitment to open-access, evidence-based content.

Scapular pain in cervical radiculopathy: a scoping review
Scapular pain may be more than a background symptom. This comprehensive review maps decades of literature suggesting it’s a common (and often early) feature of cervical radiculopathy, with implications for earlier diagnosis.

From the NASS Section Reports Focus Issue:
Traumatic spinal cord injury: a review of the current state of art and future directions – what do we know and where are we going?
The future of spinal cord injury care is already taking shape. From biomarkers to brain-computer interfaces, this state-of-the-art review explores where we stand, and where the next decade of neuroprotection, regeneration, and neuromodulation may take us.

Therapeutic exercise following lumbar spine surgery: a narrative review
Supervised therapeutic exercise is generally safe and beneficial following lumbar discectomy, fusion, and total disc arthroplasty, but tailoring programs to the individual remains key. This narrative review distills current evidence and offers practical guidance to inform activity recommendations and rehabilitation planning.

Social media best practices for the spine care professional
While social media can support education, outreach, and collaboration in spine care, it also raises complex ethical and professional considerations. This interdisciplinary best practices document offers guidance on responsible engagement, with recommendations in the areas of compliance and confidentiality, professionalism, security and access, and spine care.