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. 2016 May 20;34(5):328–341. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2015-011036

Table 1.

Participant data and outcomes

Trial
First author
(year) (country)
Total group size (n) Mean age (years) (1) Clinical inclusion criteria
(2) Non-specific back pain
Baseline mean pain duration Baseline
mean pain intensity: (0–10 cm)
Baseline
mean disability ODI (RMQ)
Other baseline variables reported Outcomes measure (follow-up period(s) post-treatment)
Alayat24 (2014)
(Saudi Arabia)
52 33 (1) Male patients with history of LBP for at least 1 year
(2) Yes
13 months 8.3 34  Bodyweight Pain, ODI, ROM (immediate, 12 weeks)
Ay25 (2010)
(Turkey)
40 53.5 (1) LBP over 3 months duration due to lumbar disc herniation
(2) Yes
49 months 6.3 24(15) Education level Pain, ODI, RMQ, ROM,
GA (immediate)
Basford26 (1999)
(USA)
63 48 (1) Non-radiating low back pain of >30 days duration
(2) Yes
10 months 3.6 23 Degeneration on lumbar X-ray,
analgesic use,
previous treatment
Pain, ODI, ROM
(immediate, 4 weeks)
Djavid27 (2007)
(Iran)
41 37 (1) LBP minimum
12 weeks duration
(2) Yes
27 months 6.2 33 Education level,
smoking status
Pain, ODI, ROM
(immediate, 6 weeks)
Glazov28 (2009)
(Australia)
100 51 (1) LBP at least 3 months duration
(2) Yes
11 years 5.7 30 Multiple Pain, ODI, GA (immediate, 6 weeks,
6 months)
Glazov18 (2014)
(Australia)
144 54 (1) LBP at least 3 months duration
(2) Yes
13 years 5.0 27 Multiple Pain, ODI, GA (immediate, 6 weeks,
6 months, 1 year)
Klein29 (1990)
(USA)
20 42 (1) LBP at least 12 months duration
(2) Yes
8.5 years 3.2 (5.6) Nil other Pain, RMQ, ROM (1 month)
Konstantinovic30 (2011)
(Serbia)
56 69 (1) Geriatric patients with chronic LBP caused by degenerative changes without red flag symptoms
(2) NR
4.6 months 6.8 31 Nil other Pain, ODI, ROM (immediate)
Lin31 (2012)
(Taiwan)
28 64 (1) LBP at least 3 months, recruited from a hospital.
‘Other complications like heart attack, kidney problem, pregnancy, excluded’
(2) NR
NR 5.2 NR BMI Pain (immediate)
Okamoto22 (1989)
(Japan)
69 57 (1) ‘Patients admitted to hospital with LBP,…pregnant, lactating, recent surgery, immune suppressants, difficult to treat excluded’
(2) NR
NR NR NR Nil other GA (immediate)
Ruth21 (2010)
(Germany)
111 59  (1) LBP over 6 months duration
(2) Yes
10 years 6.3* NR Employment
status
GA (pain, disability)* (12 weeks)
Soriano32 (1998)(Argentina) 85 64 (1) LBP duration over 3 months
(2) Yes
NR 8.0 NR Nil other GA (immediate)
Umegaki23
(1989)(Japan)
60 55 Same as in Okamoto trial NR NR NR Nil other GA (immediate)
Vallone33
(2014)
(Italy)
100 68  (1) LBP duration over 6 months
(2) Yes
NR 6.5 NR Nil other Pain (immediate)
Wallace34 (1996)
(Australia)
41 50 (1) LBP at least 3 months duration.
(2) Yes
6.5 years 6.3 31 Multiple Pain, ODI (immediate)

*von Korff scale.

BMI, body mass index; GA, global assessment; LBP, low back pain; NR, not reported; ODI, Oswestry Disability Index; RMQ, Roland Morris Questionnaire; ROM, range of back movement.