| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT (NCT00201513)
Setting: Norway, mixed
Exercise groups: 3
Comparison groups: 0 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 109 (E1 = 36, E2 = 36, E3 = 37)
Chronic LBP duration: 6 years (long)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: No participants
Mean age (years): 40
Sex (female): 71% |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Motor control exercises: isolating and activating transverse abdominus, abdominal muscles, pelvic floor, multifidus using biofeedback, home abdominal exercises; type = core strengthening; duration = 8 weeks; dose = low; design = individualised; delivery = individual; additional intervention = advice/education
Exercise Group 2 (E2): Sling exercises: back exercises in slings to stabilise spine through a range of leg and arm positions and movements; type = core strengthening; duration = 8 weeks; dose = low; design = partially individualised; delivery = individual; additional intervention = advice/education
Exercise Group 3 (E3): General exercises: trunk extension, flexion, rotation with resistance and stretching of trunk and extremity muscles with resistance equipment, home flexibility exercises; type = stretching & strengthening; duration = 8 weeks; dose = low; design = partially individualised; delivery = group; additional intervention = advice/education |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Pain (Numeric Rating Scale); function (Oswestry Disability Index)
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 8 weeks (short); 52 weeks (long) |
| Notes |
Conflicts of interest: Not reported
Funding source: Norwegian Fund for Post‐Graduate Training in Physiotherapy
Other: None |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Low risk |
The randomisation was administered by an independent study secretary via telephone. |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Low risk |
The secretary consecutively reported group allocation for included participants from a list of random numbers between 0 and 1. |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Not described |
| Blinding of care provider (performance bias) |
High risk |
Not described |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Although the baseline assessment was performed blinded, the physical therapist conducting the post‐intervention evaluation was not blinded to treatment. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
Twelve of 80 participants who were recruited by announcement at the local hospital and 10 of 29 participants who were recruited from primary care dropped out. |
| Participants analysed in group allocated (attrition bias) |
Low risk |
Performed an intention‐to‐treat analysis, and used mixed linear models to estimate mean scores, to estimate baseline‐adjusted between group differences |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| Groups similar at baseline (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Not described |
| Co‐interventions avoided or similar (performance bias) |
Low risk |
Participants were not allowed to receive other treatment for low back pain during the intervention period. |
| Compliance acceptable in all groups (performance bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| Timing of outcome assessment similar in all groups (detection bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
