Comparison 6. Treatments that start four to six weeks post‐surgery. High‐intensity exercise versus low‐intensity exercise programmes.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Pain (short term)	2	103	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐10.67 [‐17.04, ‐4.30]
2 Function (short term)	2	103	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.77 [‐1.17, ‐0.36]
3 Functional status on Low Back Pain Rating Scale (post‐treatment)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
4 Functional status on Low Back Pain Rating Scale (long term)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
5 Pain on Low Back Pain Rating Scale (post‐treatment)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
6 Pain on Low Back Pain Rating Scale (long term)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
7 Functional status on Roland‐Morris Disability Questionnare (long term)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
8 Pain on VAS (long term)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
9 Return to work (long term)	1		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected