Assistant Professor

Office: 2/F, School of Medical and Health Science, Nelson Court, 45 Waterloo Road, Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 3725 6257
Email: [email protected]

Biography:
Dr. Pinto is an Assistant Professor at the School of Biomedical Sciences and a highly skilled physiotherapist with extensive clinical and research experience. She has dedicated several years to treating musculoskeletal and pediatric cases in India.

Dr. Pinto earned her PhD and Master's in Manipulative Physiotherapy from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, in addition to a Bachelor's in Physiotherapy from India. Her research focuses on the interplay between psychological factors, spinal function, and low back pain, leading to numerous publications in prestigious peer-reviewed journals.

In addition to her research, Dr. Pinto reviews for indexed journals and presents her findings at various international conferences. She also collaborates with the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) initiative.

Academic and Professional Qualifications
Registered Physiotherapist (Hong Kong and India)

Author Identifications
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-3812-8854

Education
PhD (Physiotherapy), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
MSc in Manipulative Physiotherapy, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India

Professional Qualifications
Registered Physiotherapist in Hong Kong and India

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

Research Interests
Low Back Pain
Chronic Pain
Aging
Psychological factors affecting Chronic Pain
Rehabilitation

Honours and Awards

1. Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025-2027 (Postdoctoral Matching Fund Scheme) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Fellowship awarded competitively).
2. 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]
3. 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]
4. The Merit Award (Social Entrepreneurship), The 5th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition 2019 (Pinto SM)

Publications

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