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. 2019 Oct 2;2019(10):CD003200. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub8

Comparison 1. Exercise therapy versus treatment as usual, relaxation or flexibility.

Outcome or subgroup title No. of studies No. of participants Statistical method Effect size
1.1 Fatigue (end of treatment) 7 840 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.66 [‐1.01, ‐0.31]
1.2 Fatigue (follow‐up) 4 670 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.62 [‐1.32, 0.07]
1.3 Participants with serious adverse reactions 1   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.4 Pain (follow‐up) 1   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.4.1 Brief Pain Inventory, pain severity subscale (0 to 10 points) 1   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.4.2 Brief Pain Inventory, pain interference subscale (0 to 10 points) 1   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.5 Physical functioning (end of treatment) 5   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
1.5.1 SF‐36, physical functioning subscale (0 to 100 points) 5 725 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐13.10 [‐24.22, ‐1.98]
1.6 Physical functioning (follow‐up) 3   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
1.6.1 SF‐36, physical functioning subscale (0 to 100 points) 3 621 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐16.33 [‐36.74, 4.08]
1.7 Quality of life (follow‐up) 1   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.7.1 Quality of Life Scale (16 to 112 points) 1   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.8 Depression (end of treatment) 5   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
1.8.1 HADS, depression score (7 items/21 points) 5 504 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐1.63 [‐3.50, 0.23]
1.9 Depression (follow‐up) 4 654 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.35 [‐0.93, 0.23]
1.10 Anxiety (end of treatment) 3   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
1.10.1 HADS, anxiety score (0 to 21 points) 3 387 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐1.48 [‐3.58, 0.61]
1.11 Anxiety (follow‐up) 4 652 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.17 [‐0.50, 0.15]
1.12 Sleep (end of treatment) 2   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
1.12.1 Jenkins Sleep Scale (0 to 20 points) 2 323 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐1.49 [‐2.95, ‐0.02]
1.13 Sleep (follow‐up) 3   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
1.13.1 Jenkins Sleep Scale (0 to 20 points) 3 610 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐2.04 [‐3.84, ‐0.23]
1.14 Self‐perceived changes in overall health (end of treatment) 4 489 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 1.83 [1.39, 2.40]
1.15 Self‐perceived changes in overall health (follow‐up) 3 518 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 1.88 [0.76, 4.64]
1.16 Health resource use (follow‐up) (Mean no. of contacts) 1   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.16.1 Primary care 1   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.16.2 Other doctor 1   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.16.3 Healthcare professional 1   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.16.4 Inpatient 1   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.16.5 Accident and emergency 1   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.16.6 Other health/social services 1   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.16.7 Complementary health care 1   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.16.8 Standardised medical care 1   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.17 Health resource use (follow‐up) (No. of users) 1   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.17.1 Primary care 1   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.17.2 Other doctor 1   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.17.3 Healthcare professional 1   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.17.4 Inpatient 1   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.17.5 Accident and emergency 1   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.17.6 Medication 1   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.17.7 Complementary health care 1   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.17.8 Other health/social services 1   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.17.9 Standardised medical care 1   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Totals not selected
1.18 Dropout 6 843 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 1.63 [0.77, 3.43]
1.19 Sensitivity analysis for fatigue (end of treatment) 7   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
1.19.1 Fatigue Scale, FS (11 items/0 to 11 points) 2 325 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐3.50 [‐8.53, 1.53]
1.19.2 Fatigue Scale, FS (11 items/0 to 33 points) 2 363 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐2.57 [‐4.04, ‐1.10]
1.19.3 Fatigue Scale, FS (14 items/0 to 42 points) 3 152 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐6.80 [‐10.31, ‐3.28]
1.20 Sensitivity analysis for fatigue (follow‐up) 4   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
1.20.1 Fatigue Scale, FS (11 items/0 to 11 points) 1 148 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐7.13 [‐7.97, ‐6.29]
1.20.2 Fatigue Scale, FS (11 items/0 to 33 points) 2 472 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐2.87 [‐4.18, ‐1.55]
1.20.3 Fatigue Severity Scale, FSS (9 items/1 to 7 points) 1 50 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.15 [‐0.55, 0.85]
1.21 Subgroup analysis for fatigue (end of treatment) 7 840 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.66 [‐1.01, ‐0.31]
1.21.1 Graded exercise therapy 6 779 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.68 [‐1.08, ‐0.28]
1.21.2 Exercise with self‐pacing 1 61 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.54 [‐1.05, ‐0.02]
1.22 Subgroup analysis for fatigue (follow‐up) 4 670 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.62 [‐1.32, 0.07]
1.22.1 Graded exercise therapy 3 620 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.85 [‐1.67, ‐0.03]
1.22.2 Anaerobic exercise 1 50 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.12 [‐0.44, 0.67]
1.23 Sensitivity analysis for depression (follow‐up) 4   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
1.23.1 Beck Depression Inventory (0 to 63 points) 1 45 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 3.44 [‐3.00, 9.88]
1.23.2 HADS, depression subscale (0 to 21 points) 3 609 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐2.26 [‐5.09, 0.56]
1.24 Sensitivity analysis for anxiety (follow‐up) 4   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
1.24.1 Beck Anxiety Inventory (0 to 63 points) 1 45 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.70 [‐4.52, 5.92]
1.24.2 HADS, anxiety score (0 to 21 points) 3 607 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐1.01 [‐2.75, 0.74]