| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT
Setting: USA, general population
Exercise groups: 1
Comparison groups: 1 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 125 (E1 = 63, C1 = 62)
Chronic LBP duration: 260 weeks (long)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: Some participants
Mean age (years): 51
Sex (female): 59% |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Twelve sequential relaxation and stretching exercises to improve flexibility, home exercises with repeated instruction; type = stretching; duration = 4 weeks; dose = low; design = standardised; delivery = independent with follow‐up; additional intervention = advice/education & electrotherapy
Comparison Group 1 (C1): Other conservative treatment (physical therapy) |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Pain (Visual Analogue Scale); function (Sickness Impact Profile (Physical)); HRQoL (Sickness Impact Profile); Global Perceived Health or Recovery (Global Perceived Health or Recovery (overall improvement rating (6‐point))
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 4 weeks (short); 17 weeks (moderate) |
| Notes |
Conflicts of interest: Not reported
Funding source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Multipurpose Arthritis Center Grant; National Institutes of Health; Northwest Health Services Research and Development Field Program, Seattle Veterans Affairs Medical Centre
Other: None |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Blinding of care provider (performance bias) |
High risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Participants analysed in group allocated (attrition bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Groups similar at baseline (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Co‐interventions avoided or similar (performance bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Compliance acceptable in all groups (performance bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Timing of outcome assessment similar in all groups (detection bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
