Table 1. Characteristics of trials included in systematic review.
| Article,Year | Patients Characteristic,Sample Size | Intervention | Duration oftrial period | Outcomes | Timepoint |
| Gao Baolong (2008) | Source: hospital 29patients (G1 = 15, G2 = 14);Mean age (SD): G1 = 37.0y(4.28), G2 = 35.0y (3.99). | G1: SE;G2: Massage. | five times aweek for 8 weeks. | Self-reported pain(VAS 0–10); Skeletal musclemetabolism (Serum CK,Serum LDH). | 8 weeks. |
| Unsgaard-Tondel (2010) | Source: primary care andhospital 109 patients(G1 = 36, G2 = 36, G3 = 37);Mean age (SD): G1 = 43.4y(10.2), G2 = 40.9y (11.5),G3 = 36.0y (10.3). | G1: SE; G2: Motor controlexercise;G3: General exercise. | once a weekfor 8 weeks. | Self-reported pain(NPRS 0–10); Back painspecific functional status(M-ODI); Fear of physicalactivity and work (FABQ);Trunk flexion (FTF); Health careutilization (Low back pain therapy,Low back pain medication). | 8 weeks; 14months. |
| Guo Xianfeng (2010) | Source: hospital 246patients (G1 = 82, G2 = 82,G3 = 82); Mean age (SD):G1 = 34.1y (6.5), G2 = 33.3y(6.5), G3 = 33.5y (5.0). | G1: Intensive therapy: Backschool+SE+Health ballexercise; G2: Home exercise:Back school+Aerobictraining+Freestandingexercise; G3: Conventional therapy:Back school+Physicalagents+Drug therapy. | SE: three times a weekfor the first8 weeks; Health ball exercise:fourtimes a week for the last4 weeks; Aerobic training:three times a week for12 weeks; Freestandingexercise: four times aweek for 12 weeks; Physicalagents: five times a week for thefirst 4 weeks; Drug therapy:Meloxicam - once a day for thefirst 4 weeks, Eperisonehydrochloride tablet - three timesa day for the first 4 weeks. | Self-reported pain(NPRS 0–10); Back painspecific functionalstatus (M-ODI). | 4 weeks; 12weeks; 24weeks. |
| Qin Jiang (2010) | Source: hospital 34patients(G1 = 12, G2 = 12, G3 = 10);Mean age (SD): 49.94y(11.90). | G1: SE; G2: SE+Magnetic fieldwarmer vibration synthetictherapy; G3: Immobilized withwaistline+Williamsgymnastics training. | SE: once every two days for 6weeks; Magnetic field warmervibration synthetic therapy: onceevery two days for 6 weeks;Williams gymnastics training:three times a day for 6 weeks. | Self-reported pain (NPRS0–10); Back pain specificfunctional status (ODI). | 6 weeks; 18weeks. |
| Jin Miao (2011) | Source: hospital 60patients (G1 = 20, G2 = 20,G3 = 20); Mean age (SD):G1 = 45.97y(2.68), G2 = 44.74y (2.54),G3 = 44.79y (2.80). | G1: Intermediate frequency electrotherapy+SE; G2: Intermediate frequency electrotherapy+Thermomagnetic therapy; G3: Drug therapy. | Intermediate frequencyelectrotherapy: once a day for aweek; SE: once a dayfor a week; Thermomagnetictherapy: once a day for a week;Drug therapy: Gentongpingcapsule - two times a day for aweek, Mecobalamin- three times a day for a week. | Clinical effect (Criteria ofdiagnostic efficacy onsyndrome of traditionalChinese medicine); Self-reported pain (VAS 0–10);Anxiety state (HAMD);Ability of daily life(ADLRS); Back painspecific functional status(ODI); Joint function(ROM). | 1 week; 5weeks. |
| Hu Yuan (2011) | Source: hospital 100patients (G1 = 50, G2 = 50);Mean age (SD):G1 = 40.39y (10.68),G2 = 39.13y(9.38)[based oncompleted cases]. | G1: Back school+SE;G2: Backschool+Thermomagnetictherapy. | three times aweek for 6 weeks. | Self-reported pain (VAS0–10); Back pain specificfunctional status (ODI). | 6 weeks; 13.5months. |
| Yoo (2012) | Source: university 30patients (G1 = 15, G2 = 15);Mean age (SD): G1 = 20.1y(0.7), G2 = 20.5y (0.5). | G1: SE;G2: Mat exercise. | three times aweek for 4 weeks. | Self-reported pain(VAS 0–10); Trunkextensor strength(The Tergumed Device). | 4 weeks. |
| Wang Cong (2012) | Source: hospital 38patients (G1 = 19, G2 = 19);Mean age(SD): G1 = 36.95y (11.78),G2 = 36.05y (10.80). | G1: Back school+SE;G2: Back school+Freestandingexercise+Health ball training. | three times aweek for 8 weeks. | Self-reported pain (VAS0–10); Back pain specificfunctional status (ODI[exclude sexual life item]). | 8 weeks; 12weeks; 20weeks. |
| Liu Pan (2012) | Source: community andhospital 60 patients(G1 = 20, G2 = 20, G3 = 20);Mean age (SD):G1 = 46.73y(11.58), G2 = 44.60y(10.57), G3 = 43.28y(10.34). | G1: SE; G2: Acupuncturetherapy; G3: Acupuncturetherapy+SE. | seven times aweek for 4 weeks. | Self-reported pain (VAS 0–10); Disability (JOA). | the first day; 2 weeks; 4 weeks. |
Abbreviations G: Group; SD: Standard deviation; SE: Sling exercise; VAS: Visual analog scale; CK: Creatine kinase; LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase; NPRS: Numeric pain rating scale; M-ODI: Modified oswestry disability index; FABQ: Fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire; FTF: the Fingertip-to-Floor test (in centimeters); ODI: Oswestry disability index; HAMD: Hamilton rating scale for depression; ADLRS: Activity of daily living rating scale; ROM: Range of motion; JOA: Japanese Orthopedic Association scores for assessment of low back pain.