Comparison 1. Low‐back pain with/without radiation, traction versus placebo, sham or no treatment.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Pain intensity	2		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.1 3‐5 weeks	2	247	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐18.49 [‐24.12, ‐12.87]
1.2 6‐12 weeks	1	150	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.30 [‐9.91, 10.51]
1.3 6 months	1	150	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.5 [‐11.55, 10.55]
1.4 1 year	1	97	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐9.10 [‐19.32, 1.12]
2 Functional status	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.1 3‐5 weeks	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
2.2 6‐12 weeks	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
2.3 6 months	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
3 Global improvement	2		Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 3‐5 weeks	2	175	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.03 [‐0.17, 0.12]
3.2 6‐12 weeks	2	175	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.03 [‐0.12, 0.18]
3.3 6 months	1	150	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.02 [‐0.14, 0.18]
4 Return to work (days)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
4.1 3‐5 weeks	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
4.2 6‐12 weeks	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
4.3 6 months	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]