Sherrington 2008a.

Methods	Type of study: RCT
Participants	Number of participants randomised: 173 Losses: 14 of 173 (8 exercise gp and 6 control gp) Age: Exercise Gp 73.4 (11.1) yrs; Control Gp 76.4 (10.2) yrs. Sex: Females n = 99 (57%) and males. Health status as defined by authors: frail Residential status of participants: community dwelling Setting: Australia. Inclusion: mobility impairment, unsuitability to join other group exercise. Exclusion: receiving other rehabilitation, severe respiratory or cardiac disease.
Interventions	EXERCISE GROUP (MULTIPLE): (n = 85) circuit style group exercises, sit to stand, walking over/around obstacles, stepping in different directions, heel raises, side steps onto blocks, step ups, side taps, treadmill or exercise bike. Moved stations every 3 to 4 minutes. Tailored to suit different levels of ability. Plus home exercises every week. CONTROL GROUP (n = 88): waiting list Duration and intensity: 5 weeks, 2 times 1 hour per week plus home exercise Supervisor: physiotherapist. Supervision: group exercise sessions. Setting: outpatient hospital rehabilitation gym.
Outcomes	Step test (reps in 15 s) gait 6m walk test (m/s) semi tandem stand (s) tandem stand (s) Compliance/adherence: not reported but no registers of attendance were kept and no diaries for home exercise. Adverse events: No adverse events reported.
Notes	Also assessed muscle strength and sit to stand ability. Only 50% referred would take part in the study.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Randomisation method not stated
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Sequentially numbered opaque sealed envelopes
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	High risk	Intention‐to‐treat on those who came for follow‐up but no analysis of missing data.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	Insufficient information to permit judgement
Other bias	Low risk	The study appears to be free of other sources of bias
Blinding (participant)	High risk	Not possible
Blinding (assessor)	High risk	Reported as blind to baseline results but not to group allocation
Were the treatment and control group comparable at entry?	Low risk	No differences reported on baseline characteristics with a potential to influence the effect of the intervention
Was the surveillance active, and of clinically appropriate duration (i.e. at least 3 months post intervention)?	High risk	Only immediately post intervention data, no follow‐up data reported.