| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT
Setting: China, healthcare
Exercise groups: 4
Comparison groups: 1 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 320 (E1 = 141, E2 = 47, E3 = 47, E4 = 38, C1 = 47)
Chronic LBP duration: 2.1 years (moderate)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: Not specified
Mean age (years): 38
Sex (female): 41% |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Tai Chi (Chen style); type = other (Tai Chi, Qigong); duration = 26 weeks; dose = high; design = standardised; delivery = independent with follow‐up; additional intervention = electrotherapy & manual therapy
Exercise Group 2 (E2): Backward walking; type = aerobic; duration = 26 weeks; dose = high; design = standardised; delivery = independent with follow‐up; additional intervention = electrotherapy & manual therapy
Exercise Group 3 (E3): Jogging; type = aerobic; duration = 26 weeks; dose = high; design = standardised; delivery = independent; additional intervention = electrotherapy & manual therapy
Exercise Group 4 (E4): Swimming; type = aerobic; duration = 26 weeks; dose = high; design = standardised; delivery = independent with follow‐up; additional intervention = electrotherapy & manual therapy
Comparison Group 1 (C1): Other conservative treatment (physical therapy) |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Pain (Visual Analogue Scale)
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 26 weeks (moderate) |
| Notes |
Conflicts of interest: None to declare
Funding source: Not reported
Other: SDs imputed |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Using a random number table generated by SPSS 17.0 |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
At the beginning of our trial, participants were told that these exercises were helpful with alleviating back pain. |
| Blinding of care provider (performance bias) |
High risk |
Assumed not possible |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
During the trial, seven patients from the control group and nine patients from the Tai Chi group dropped out of the study. |
| Participants analysed in group allocated (attrition bias) |
Unclear risk |
It was not clear whether the dropouts were left out of all the analyses or whether the 320 included the dropouts. |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
| Groups similar at baseline (selection bias) |
Low risk |
At the beginning of the trial, Tai Chi and control groups showed no significant differences. |
| Co‐interventions avoided or similar (performance bias) |
Low risk |
Sports training was vetoed but no mention of medication, other therapies, etc. |
| 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. |
