TABLE 2.
GRADE Evidence Profile of Mind-Body Exercise Interventions for the Treatment of Low Back Pain
| Quality Assessment | Participants n | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure Comparator Follow-Up (# of studies) | Study Limitations | Inconsistency | Indirectness | Imprecision | Reporting Bias | Mind-Body | Ctrl | SMD* (95%CI) | Quality of Evidence |
| Mind-Body Exercise Interventions for Pain | |||||||||
| Pain – ST NEC (n=4) | Not serious | Seriousb | Seriousc | Not Serious | Seriouse | 178 | 170 | −1.56f (−2.69; −0.42) | Low |
| Pain – ST EC (n=4) | Seriousa | Not Serious | Not serious | Seriousd | Seriouse | 109 | 101 | −0.26 (−0.46; −0.07) | Very Low |
| Pain – LT (n=4) | Seriousa | Seriousb | Seriousc | Seriousd | Seriouse | 151 | 145 | −0.60 (−1.43; −0.23) | Very Low |
| Mind-Body Exercise Interventions for Disability | |||||||||
| Disability – ST NEC (n=3) | Not serious | Seriousb | Seriousc | Not Serious | Seriouse | 128 | 123 | −1.15f (−2.49; 0.18) | Low |
| Disability – ST EC (n=3) | Seriousa | Not Serious | Not serious | Seriousd | Seriouse | 95 | 91 | −0.27 (−0.59; 0.05) | Very Low |
| Disability – LT (n=4) | Seriousa | Seriousb | Seriousc | Seriousd | Seriouse | 151 | 145 | −1.05f (−3.51; 1.41) | Very Low |
SMD = Standardized mean difference; CI = Confidence interval *random effects model, negative values favor mind-body exercise interventions; ST = Short term; LT= Long term; NEC= Non-Exercise Control; EC = Exercise Control
Footnotes: Randomized trials begin with “High” quality of evidence.
Downgraded 1 level due to studies with small sample sizes (n<25).
Downgraded 1 level due to lack of similarity between point estimates
Downgraded 1 level due to indirectness in patient population, studies included samples of only females > 45 yo.
Downgraded 1 level due to large and varying confidence intervals.
Downgraded 1 level due to selective outcome reporting.
Increased 1 level due to large effects (SMD < −0.80).