| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT (ACTRN12608000270314)
Setting: Australia, general population
Exercise groups: 1
Comparison groups: 1 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 160 (E1 = 80, C1 = 80)
Chronic LBP duration: Not specified (not specified)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: Some participants
Mean age (years): 44
Sex (female): 74% |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Tai Chi with warm‐up and cool‐down; type = other (Tai Chi); duration = 10 weeks; dose = low; design = standardised; delivery = group; additional intervention = none
Comparison Group 1 (C1): Usual care/no treatment (waiting‐list group) |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Pain (Numeric Rating Scale); function (Roland‐Morris Disability Questionnaire); Global Perceived Health or Recovery (Global Perceived Health or Recovery (Global Perceived Effect scale))
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 10 weeks (short) |
| Notes |
Conflicts of interest: Dr. Lam has received royalties from the instructional video Tai Chi for Back Pain.
Funding source: Arthritis Foundation of Australia; Arthritis Care of the United Kingdom
Other: SDs imputed |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Random number function in Microsoft Excel |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Sealed opaque envelopes |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Envelopes were opened and patients were assigned Tai Chi or waiting‐list control, therefore unblinded. |
| Blinding of care provider (performance bias) |
High risk |
Treatment provider was with the patient when envelope was opened, assigning groups. |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
See Figure 1 |
| Participants analysed in group allocated (attrition bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| Groups similar at baseline (selection bias) |
Low risk |
The groups were not statistically significantly different at baseline with regard to age, sex, self‐reported chronic pain grade. |
| Co‐interventions avoided or similar (performance bias) |
Unclear risk |
All participants were instructed to continue with their normal health care (general practioner visits and recommendations) + fitness. |
| Compliance acceptable in all groups (performance bias) |
High risk |
In the intervention group, 28.8% adhered to the intervention; 57.5% of the total treatment group attended 50% or more Tai Chi sessions. |
| Timing of outcome assessment similar in all groups (detection bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
