Ferguson 1976.

Methods	RCT; allocated randomly in turn, cross‐over trial; observer blinded in part
Participants	Prevalent neck/shoulder complaints (non‐specific); only men; n = 40. Full‐time operating telegraphists
Interventions	Group A: active exercise + ultrasound Group B: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF training) + ice Group C: massage   Four‐week intervention, cross‐over after two, four months
Outcomes	Interview, observation of keyboard operation, self‐assessment, fear
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	High risk	Allocation randomly in turn
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Unclear whether allocation is concealed
Blinding of participants?	High risk	Participants were not blinded
Blinding of caregivers?	Unclear risk	Unclear whether caregivers were blinded
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Outcome assessment is regarded as blinded
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes ‐ <20% drop‐outs?	Low risk	Varying dropout rates, all < 20%
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes ‐ ITT analysis performed?	High risk	No ITT analysis
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	No protocol
Similarity of baseline characteristics?	High risk	Groups not similar at baseline
Co‐interventions avoided?	Unclear risk	Unclear whether co‐interventions were avoided
Compliance acceptable ?	Unclear risk	Unclear compliance rate
Timing outcome assessment comparable?	Low risk	Timing comparable