| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT
Setting: USA, mixed
Exercise groups: 1
Comparison groups: 1 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 44 (E1 = 20, C1 = 24)
Chronic LBP duration: Not specified (long)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: Some participants
Mean age (years): 48
Sex (female): 68% |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Yoga: 29 different postures using supportive props to enhance alignment, flexibility, mobility and stability in all muscles and joints that affect spinal alignment and posture; type = yoga; duration = 16 weeks; dose = high; design = standardised; delivery = group; additional intervention = none
Comparison Group 1 (C1): Other conservative treatment (education) |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Pain (Visual Analogue Scale); function (Pain Disability Index)
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 16 weeks (moderate) |
| Notes |
Conflicts of interest: Not reported
Funding source: West Virginia University
Other: None |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Subjects were randomised to control or yoga groups using a random number generating program from JMP 4.0 statistical software. |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Author contact: changed to yes; they used envelopes |
| 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 |
Low risk |
Data collectors were blind to the subject's treatment status. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Ten subjects were excluded from the analysis in the yoga group. |
| 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 |
A one‐way ANOVA (unpaired t‐test) revealed no significant differences in demographics and medical history between the yoga and control groups (P > 0.05). |
| Co‐interventions avoided or similar (performance bias) |
Low risk |
Changes from the baseline in drug consumption were evaluated at post‐intervention and at three‐month follow‐up. |
| Compliance acceptable in all groups (performance bias) |
Low risk |
Of the 20 subjects completing the yoga intervention, an attendance rate of 91.9% was achieved for the 16‐week protocol. |
| Timing of outcome assessment similar in all groups (detection bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement was not available. |
