| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT
Setting: Switzerland, general population
Exercise groups: 3
Comparison groups: 0 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 148 (E1 = 50, E2 = 49, E3 = 49)
Chronic LBP duration: 566 weeks (long)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: No participants
Mean age (years): 45
Sex (female): 57% |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Aerobics, stretching; type = aerobic & stretching; duration = 12 weeks; dose = high; design = standardised; delivery = group; additional intervention = none
Exercise Group 2 (E2): Controlled progressive exercises with machines, David Beck Clinic programme (functional restoration); type = functional restoration; duration = 12 weeks; dose = high; design = partially individualised; delivery = group; additional intervention = none
Exercise Group 3 (E3): Exercises using TheraBand's and general strength training and home exercise (as part of physiotherapy); type = strengthening; duration = 12 weeks; dose = low; design = individualised; delivery = individual; additional intervention = advice/education |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Pain (Visual Analogue Scale); function (Roland‐Morris Disability Questionnaire)
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 12 weeks (short); 26 weeks (moderate); 52 weeks (long) |
| Notes |
Conflicts of interest: Device status category: 1
Funding source: Swiss National Science Foundation (Grant No. 32‐50979.97); Schulthess Klinik Research Fund; DBC International
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 |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Blinding of care provider (performance bias) |
Low 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 |
