Comparison 5. Treatments that start four to six weeks post‐surgery. Exercise versus no treatment.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Pain (post‐treatment)	7	272	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.90 [‐1.55, ‐0.24]
2 Functional status (post‐treatment)	6	252	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.67 [‐1.22, ‐0.12]
3 Functional status (long term)	3	226	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.22 [‐0.49, 0.04]
4 Pain on Low Back Pain Rating Scale (long term)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
5 Functional status on Low Back Pain Rating Scale (post‐treatment)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
6 Functional status on Low Back Pain Rating Scale (long term)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
7 Pain on Low Back Pain Rating Scale (post‐treatment)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
8 Pain on Low Back Pain Rating Scale (long term)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected