| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT
Setting: United Kingdom, mixed
Exercise groups: 2
Comparison groups: 1 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 24 (E1 = 10, E2 = 7, C1 = 7)
Chronic LBP duration: 12.9 years (long)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: No participants
Mean age (years): 44
Sex (female): Not reported |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Lumbar extension resistance exercise on MEDX training system using full range of motion; type = strengthening; duration = 12 weeks; dose = high; design = partially individualised; delivery = individual; additional intervention = not specified
Exercise Group 2 (E2): Lumbar extension resistance exercise on MEDX training system using 50% of range of motion; type = strengthening; duration = 12 weeks; dose = high; design = partially individualised; delivery = individual; additional intervention = not specified
Comparison Group 1 (C1): Usual care/no treatment (control group: continued with normal activity and treatment) |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Pain (Visual Analogue Scale); function (Oswestry Disability Index)
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 12 weeks (short) |
| Notes |
Conflicts of interest: Expert testimony, grants, payment for lecture
Funding source: No funding received
Other: Information modified for author contact; SDs imputed |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Thirty‐one participants were randomised using an online randomisation program (Research Randomizer vs 3.0). |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Author contact: participants recruited until three available |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Assumed not possible |
| Blinding of care provider (performance bias) |
High risk |
Assumed not possible |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Assumed not possible |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
Flow chart |
| Participants analysed in group allocated (attrition bias) |
High risk |
Not included |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| Groups similar at baseline (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Author contact: stated no significant difference at baseline |
| Co‐interventions avoided or similar (performance bias) |
Low risk |
Author contact: no new interventions; one participant confirmed physio; excluded from analysis |
| Compliance acceptable in all groups (performance bias) |
Unclear risk |
Author contact: only recorded for lumbar extension group. Attendance between training groups for lumbar extension training sessions also did not significantly differ. |
| Timing of outcome assessment similar in all groups (detection bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
