Table 2 Methodological Quality Criteria for Assessment of Observational Studies.
| Trial | 1 Relevant subjects | 2 Appropriate inclusion criteria | 3 Prospective investigation (stated) | 4 Adequate follow‐up (defined as 1 year after final treatment) | 5 Loss to follow‐up accounted for | 6 Blinded assessment (stated) | 7 Appropriate impairment outcomes | 8 Appropriate disability outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ainsworth (2006)24 | ✓ | ✓ | X | X | ✓ All present | X | None measured | ✓ |
| Bokor et al (1993)25 | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| Goldberg et al (2001)26 | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ All present | X | None measured | ✓ |
| Hawkins and Dunlop (1995)27 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| Heers et al (2005)28 | ✓ | ✓ | X | X | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| Itoi and Tabata (1992)29 | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| Koubaa et al (2005)30 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ All present | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| Palmer (1998)31 | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ All present | X | ✓ | None measured |
| Piccoli and Hasson (2004)32 | ✓ | ✓ | X | X | ✓ All present | X | ✓ | ✓ |
| Yamada et al (2000)33 | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ |