| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT
Setting: Italy, not specified
Exercise groups: 2
Comparison groups: 0 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 54 (E1 = 27, E2 = 27)
Chronic LBP duration: 23.4 months (moderate)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: Not specified
Mean age (years): 73
Sex (female): 44% |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Hydrotherapy: warm‐up, stretching and strengthening exercises for abdominal, gluteal, back, and hip muscles; type = strengthening & stretching; duration = 12 weeks; dose = high; design = standardised; delivery = group; additional intervention = none
Exercise Group 2 (E2): Stretching and strengthening exercises for abdominal, gluteal, back, and hip muscles; type = strengthening & stretching; duration = 12 weeks; dose = high; design = standardised; delivery = group; additional intervention = psychological therapy & back school |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Function (Roland‐Morris Disability Questionnaire); HRQoL (36‐Item Short Form Survey)
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 12 weeks (short); 26 weeks (moderate) |
| Notes |
Conflicts of interest: Not reported
Funding source: Not reported
Other: None |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Low risk |
The participants were randomly allocated using computer randomisation software (RANDI2 software version 0.6.1). |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Assumed not possible |
| Blinding of care provider (performance bias) |
High risk |
Assumed not possible |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Assumed not possible |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
Two before treatment started; none during |
| Participants analysed in group allocated (attrition bias) |
Low risk |
All analyses were performed on the basis of intention‐to‐treat. |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| Groups similar at baseline (selection bias) |
Low risk |
No significant differences in age, sex, weight, body mass index and symptoms duration |
| Co‐interventions avoided or similar (performance bias) |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Compliance acceptable in all groups (performance bias) |
Low risk |
Both rehabilitation programmes had no side effects or complications and we also had high participant compliance. |
| Timing of outcome assessment similar in all groups (detection bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
