1. Contents of light physical conditioning programme (PCP).

	Faas 1995	Heymans 2006	Jensen 2011	Karjalainen 2003	Skouen 2002	Wright 2005
Time span of training	5 wks	4 wks	18 weeks median duration	na	na	2 wks
Number of sessions	2 per week	1 per week	after the interview, the participant was seen at least once, and four times on average	2	approx. 4 hrs at the start + 6 follow up or individual sessions over a period of 1 year	1 examination + treatment initially then 3 per week
Length of sessions	20 min	120 min	1‐2 hrs	1‐1,5 hr	unclear	1 hr
Full time	no	no	no	no	no	no
group or individual	individual	group	individual	individual	both	both
exercises	yes	yes	yes in advice	yes	yes, advice and programme	yes
work related exercises	yes	yes	yes in advice	yes	yes in advice	yes
operant conditioning behavioural approach	no	no	no	no, although intervention was based on graded activity programme	no	no
pain coping/ management	no	no	yes	no	no	no
back pain education	no	yes	yes	no	no	no
ergonomic advice or occupational training	no	yes	no	no	no	advice on how to modify physical activities specific to the individual's work situation
return‐to‐work advice	no	yes	yes	no	no	no
workplace visit	no	no	yes	yes	no (not for all individuals)	no
therapists involved	physiotherapist	physiotherapist, occupational physician	rehabilitation physician, specialist in clinical social medicine, physiotherapist, social worker, occupational therapist, case manager	physiotherapist, physician	physio therapist, nurse, psychologist	physiotherapist
other aspects	written compliance contract	CAU	brief clinical examination	CAU	no	CAU being a back book and advice on how to modify physical activities specific to the indivual's work situation
comparison	CAU	CAU/ intense PCP	brief clinical examination only	CAU	CAU / intense PCP	CAU being a back book and advice on how to modify physical activities specific to the individual's work situation ‐ only