| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT (NCT01124201)
Setting: Brazil, healthcare
Exercise groups: 2
Comparison groups: 0 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 30 (E1 = 15, E2 = 15)
Chronic LBP duration: Not specified (long)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: No participants
Mean age (years): 42
Sex (female): Not reported |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Segmental stabilisation exercises: transversus abdominal and multifidus muscles; type = core strengthening; duration = 6 weeks; dose = low; design = standardised; delivery = group; additional intervention = none
Exercise Group 2 (E2): Stretching of the erector spinae, hamstrings, and calf muscles; type = stretching; duration = 6 weeks; dose = low; design = standardised; delivery = group; additional intervention = none |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Pain (Visual Analogue Scale); function (Oswestry Disability Index)
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 6 weeks (short) |
| Notes |
Conflicts of interest: None to declare
Funding source: State of São Paulo Research Foundation
Other: SDs imputed |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Low risk |
They were randomised (random number in opaque envelopes) in one of two treatment groups. |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Low risk |
They were randomised (random number in opaque envelopes) in one of two treatment groups. |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Blinding of care provider (performance bias) |
High risk |
Sessions were supervised by the investigator. |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
Participants were assessed at baseline and at the end of study treatment by an investigator (physical therapist) blinded to the randomisation. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
No dropouts |
| Participants analysed in group allocated (attrition bias) |
Low risk |
No dropouts |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Unclear risk |
Sex was not reported. |
| Groups similar at baseline (selection bias) |
Low risk |
No significant differences were seen for age, weight, and height. |
| Co‐interventions avoided or similar (performance bias) |
Low risk |
Participants were instructed not to participate in any other physical programme during the study as well as not to exercise while at home. |
| 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. |
