Khan 2013.
| Study characteristics | ||
| Methods | RCT conducted in outpatient physiotherapy clinic (secondary care setting) | |
| Participants | 30 patients from Raj Nursing Home (age 25 to 65 years) who were diagnosed with low back pain, with onset > 1 to 3 months (chronic) | |
| Interventions | Participants were randomly assigned to either group A receiving US and exercise combined or group B receiving exercise alone. Participants in both groups received 10 sessions of treatment, each about 20 minutes, over 4 weeks. In group A, US dose was 1 W/cm² with frequency of 1 MHz in continuous mode for 8 minutes over the paravertebral low back region. Group B received placebo US. Both groups received stretching and strengthening exercises. |
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| Outcomes | VAS: both groups had significant reduction. McGill Pain Questionnaire (PRI/PPI): both groups had significant reduction. |
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| Notes | No statistical analysis was performed to address the difference between groups regarding the amount of change. | |
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Method for determining randomisation sequence not reported in text. |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Unclear risk | No description of the method of group allocation |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) Participants | Unclear risk | Not reported in text |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) Care providers | High risk | Not reported in text, unlikely to be blinded |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | Not reported in text |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) Dropout rate described | Unclear risk | Complete outcome data, but dropout not described |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) Intention‐to‐treat | Unclear risk | Unclear if all cases were analysed or what method of analysis was used |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Unclear risk | No trial pre‐registration or published protocol was available. |
| Similar groups | Unclear risk | Not reported in text |
| Co‐interventions | Unclear risk | Not reported in text |
| Compliance | Unclear risk | Not reported in text |
| Timing of outcome measures | Low risk | Same across groups, before treatment and after 4 weeks |