| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT
Setting: Finland, general population
Exercise groups: 2
Comparison groups: 0 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 293 (E1 = 141, E2 = 152)
Chronic LBP duration: Not specified (not specified)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: Not specified
Mean age (years): 40
Sex (female): 55% |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Muscle training; pool exercises; indoor and outdoor activities (as part of a multidisciplinary programme); type = mixed; duration = 3 weeks; dose = high; design = standardised; delivery = group; additional intervention = electrotherapy & manual therapy & back school
Exercise Group 2 (E2): Guided or self‐controlled physical exercises including aerobic, strengthening, and stretching exercises; type = mixed; duration = 3 weeks; dose = high; design = individualised; delivery = independent with follow‐up; additional intervention = psychological therapy & relaxation |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Function (Million Index); work (sick‐leave days and occupational handicap)
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 12 weeks (short); 52 weeks (long) |
| Notes |
Conflicts of interest: Financial disclosure/device statement category: 3, 7
Funding source: Not reported
Other: SDs imputed |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Blinding of care provider (performance bias) |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
A total of 98% of patients from the baseline examinations participated in the 12‐month follow‐up. |
| Participants analysed in group allocated (attrition bias) |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| Groups similar at baseline (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| Co‐interventions avoided or similar (performance bias) |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Compliance acceptable in all groups (performance bias) |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Timing of outcome assessment similar in all groups (detection bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
