| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT
Setting: Thailand, general population
Exercise groups: 1
Comparison groups: 1 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 164 (E1 = 82, C1 = 82)
Chronic LBP duration: 3 years (long)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: Some participants
Mean age (years): 43
Sex (female): 44% |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Chen style shadowboxing exercise (24 steps, involving multisegmental and multidirectional movement patterns); type = aerobic & strengthening; duration = 12 weeks; dose = high; design = partially individualised; delivery = group; additional intervention = none
Comparison Group 1 (C1): Usual care/no treatment (control group: no exercise, but given suggestions for healthy living) |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Pain (Visual Analogue Scale); HRQoL (36‐Item Short Form Survey)
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 12 weeks (short) |
| Notes |
Conflicts of interest: Not reported
Funding source: Not reported
Other: SDs imputed |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Randomised using random number generator |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| Blinding of care provider (performance bias) |
High risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
During the study period, three control group participants and four group participants dropped out of the study. |
| Participants analysed in group allocated (attrition bias) |
Unclear 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 |
No statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups. |
| Co‐interventions avoided or similar (performance bias) |
Unclear risk |
Although participants in the control group were encouraged to engage in healthy living activities, they were not directed in any specific activities. |
| 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. |
