| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT
Setting: India, mixed
Exercise groups: 2
Comparison groups: 0 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 60 (E1 = 30, E2 = 30)
Chronic LBP duration: Not specified (moderate)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: No participants
Mean age (years): 38
Sex (female): 65% |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Warm‐up on stationary bike (5 minutes), lumbar spine mobilisation to the hypomobile segments (10 minutes), lumbar stabilisation exercises (2 series of 10 repetitions of wall squats, bridges, tilts, and quadruped lifts); type = core strengthening & stretching; duration = 3 weeks; dose = low; design = partially individualised; delivery = individual; additional intervention = electrotherapy
Exercise Group 2 (E2): Warm‐up on stationary bike (5 minutes), lumbar spine mobilisation to the hypomobile segments (10 minutes), lumbar stabilisation exercises (2 series of 10 repetitions of wall squats, bridges, tilts, and quadruped lifts), slump‐stretch exercises; type = mixed; duration = 3 weeks; dose = low; design = partially individualised; delivery = individual; additional intervention = electrotherapy |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Pain (Numeric Rating Scale); function (Oswestry Disability Index)
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 6 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 |
A computer‐generated randomised block of numbers obtained before the study was used to determine group assignment |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Low risk |
After the baseline examination was completed, the examining therapist left the room and a second, blinded therapist entered. |
| 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 |
High risk |
Subjects completed several self‐report outcome measures. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
All 60 subjects completed the study and were included in the analysis. |
| Participants analysed in group allocated (attrition bias) |
Low risk |
All 60 subjects completed the study and were included in the analysis. |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| Groups similar at baseline (selection bias) |
Low risk |
The baseline characteristics were analysed and found to be similar between groups. |
| 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. |
