| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT
Setting: United Kingdom, not specified
Exercise groups: 3
Comparison groups: 0 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 63 (E1 = 20, E2 = 22, E3 = 21)
Chronic LBP duration: Not specified (not specified)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: Some participants
Mean age (years): Not reported
Sex (female): Not reported |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Mulligan and McKenzie mobilisation techniques, deep core strengthening, swimming and walking; type = mixed; duration = 10 weeks; dose = high; design = not specified; delivery = individual; additional intervention = advice/education & other & physiotherapy
Exercise Group 2 (E2): Gym ball exercise including intense use of a gym ball in the clinic and at home; type = core strengthening; duration = 10 weeks; dose = high; design = partially individualised; delivery = individual; additional intervention = advice/education
Exercise Group 3 (E3): Home exercise at least 3 times weekly (walking and cycling); type = aerobic; duration = 10 weeks; dose = high; design = standardised; delivery = independent; additional intervention = anti‐inflammatory/analgesics |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Pain (McGill Pain Score); function (Oswestry Disability Index); HRQoL (36‐Item Short Form Survey)
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 10 weeks (short) |
| 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) |
Unclear risk |
The randomisation process was not stratified. |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Randomised using sealed envelopes to one of three treatment groups |
| 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 |
Participants completed questionnaires. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| 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) |
Unclear risk |
Stated that "The three groups were similar at trial entry" but no statistics were presented |
| 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. |
