Hsieh 1992.

Methods	RCT
Participants	Subjects: 164 patients, 62 women and 102 men with non‐specific LBP and no sciatica. Median age 32 and mean duration of complaints between 3 weeks and 6 months. Inclusion criteria: 1) age 18‐55 years, 2) LBP between 3 weeks and 6 months duration, 3) good health.
Interventions	Treatment intervention: 1) Corset (n=29), lumbosacral canvas corset with metal stays in the back. Corset use during waking hours, 3 weeks. Control interventions: 2) Spinal manipulation (n=70), 3 times / week. 3) Soft tissue massage (n=37), 3 times / week. 4) TMS (n=28), unit should be worn for 8 hours / day.
Outcomes	Pain, functional status. No differences in pain. Functional status only after 4 weeks better compared to massage, not to manipulation and TMS.
Notes	88% of the original patients completed the assessments at baseline and at 4 weeks. Data of RDQ and revised Oswestry are reported by Hsieh (1992) for a subgroup of 83 patients from the study population of Pope. Compliance: 65% wore the belt more than 7 hours a day during the intervention period.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Adequate sequence generation?	Low risk
Allocation concealment?	Low risk	A ‐ Adequate
Blinding? All outcomes ‐ patients?	High risk
Blinding? All outcomes ‐ outcome assessor?	Low risk
Incomplete outcome data addressed? All outcomes ‐ drop‐outs?	High risk
Incomplete outcome data addressed? All outcomes ‐ ITT analysis?	High risk
Similarity of baseline characteristics?	Low risk
Co‐interventions avoided or similar?	Low risk
Compliance acceptable?	Low risk	Compliance: 65% wore the belt more than 7 hours a day during the intervention period.
Timing outcome assessments similar?	Low risk