Table 6.

Best Evidence Synthesis

Modalities Used	Clinically Effective		Clinically Not Effective		Level of Best Evidence
Quality of Study	High	Low	High	Low
SMT and Exercise	Childs, 200443 Mohseni-Bandpei, 200644	UK BEAM, 200446	Bronfort, 200845		Clinically effective level 2
SMT and Physiotherapy		Beyerman, 200647	Hurley, 200448 Hurwitz, 200249		Clinically not effective level 2
SMT and Conventional Medical Care	Ongley, 198752		Jüni, 200950		Clinically not effective level 4
			Hancock, 200751
SMT, Exercise and Conventional Medical Care	Niemistö, 200353				Clinically effective level 2
SMT and Topical Ointment				Zhang, 200854	Clinically not effective level 3
Acupuncture and Exercise	Yeung, 200355	Leibing, 200256	Weiner, 200863		Clinically effective level 3
Acupuncture and Physiotherapy			Itoh, 200957		Clinically not effective level 3
Acupuncture and Conventional Medical Care	Gunn, 198060 Meng, 200358 Molsberger, 200259				Clinically effective level 1
Exercise and Physiotherapy	Mayer, 200561				Clinically effective level 2
Conventional Medical Care with Choice of Acupuncture, Chiropractic, or Massage			Eisenberg, 200762		Clinically not effective level 3

Quality as measured on Cochrane Back Review Group scale: High, ≥6; Low, < 6.

Abbreviation: SMT, spinal manipulative therapy.