| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT
Setting: Iran, general population
Exercise groups: 2
Comparison groups: 0 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 20 (E1 = 10, E2 = 10)
Chronic LBP duration: Not specified (not specified)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: Some participants
Mean age (years): 35
Sex (female): 100% |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Back flexor and extensor strengthening and pelvic floor exercises (4 repetitions of 5 second contractions, progressing to 10 repetitions of 10 second contractions) with biofeedback; type = core strengthening; duration = 8 weeks; dose = low; design = standardised; delivery = individual; additional intervention = electrotherapy
Exercise Group 2 (E2): Back flexion and extension strengthening exercises with biofeedback; type = strengthening; duration = 8 weeks; dose = low; design = standardised; delivery = individual; additional intervention = electrotherapy |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Pain (Visual Analogue Scale); function (Oswestry Disability Index)
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 8 weeks (short); 13 weeks (moderate) |
| Notes |
Conflicts of interest: Not reported
Funding source: University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences; Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences
Other: SDs imputed. 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 participants who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly assigned to one of the two groups through a block‐style randomisation schedule. |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Blinding of care provider (performance bias) |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
No dropouts during treatment; 25% loss at follow‐up |
| Participants analysed in group allocated (attrition bias) |
Unclear risk |
Three months follow‐up was performed on all patients to assess any changes in pain intensity, functional disability, PFM endurance and strength. |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| Groups similar at baseline (selection bias) |
Low risk |
As is shown in Table 1, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at baseline. |
| 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 |
Same timing |
