| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT
Setting: India, healthcare
Exercise groups: 1
Comparison groups: 1 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 141 (E1 = 72, C1 = 69)
Chronic LBP duration: Not specified (not specified)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: Not specified
Mean age (years): 35
Sex (female): 35% |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Segmental stability training delivered in 4 stages: 1) abdominal hollowing; 2) stability exercises static load; 3) progressed to controlled movement; 4) high speed movement; type = core strengthening; duration = 5 weeks; dose = low; design = standardised; delivery = individual; additional intervention = none
Comparison Group 1 (C1): Other conservative treatment (physical therapy) |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Pain (Visual Analogue Scale); function (Waddell Disability Index); HRQoL (36‐Item Short Form Survey)
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 12 weeks (short) |
| Notes |
Conflicts of interest: None to declare
Funding source: Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi
Other: Sufficient data not available for inclusion in meta‐analyses |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Low risk |
The subjects were randomised equally in two groups by lottery method. |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
No indication of whether patients could see what was on the paper |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
After group allocations, respective subjects were treated either with conventional techniques or dynamic muscular stabilization techniques in a single‐blind manner. |
| Blinding of care provider (performance bias) |
High risk |
Not described |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Outcome variables such as pain severity, physical strength, functional ability |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| 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) |
Low risk |
Demographic characteristics (Table 2) of two treatment groups were assessed at baseline and found not to be significant. |
| Co‐interventions avoided or similar (performance bias) |
Low risk |
The subjects were not allowed to get any other treatment options including the painkillers. |
| 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. |
