| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT
Setting: Hong Kong, healthcare
Exercise groups: 2
Comparison groups: 0 |
| Participants |
Number of participants: 52 (E1 = 26, E2 = 26)
Chronic LBP duration: Not specified (not specified)
Neurological/radicular symptoms: Some participants
Mean age (years): 53
Sex (female): 83% |
| Interventions |
Exercise Group 1 (E1): Stretching, mobilising, strengthening exercises; type = mixed; duration = 4 weeks; dose = low; design = standardised; delivery = group; additional intervention = advice/education
Exercise Group 2 (E2): Stretching, mobilising, strengthening exercises; type = mixed; duration = 4 weeks; dose = low; design = standardised; delivery = independent; additional intervention = advice/education & electrotherapy |
| Outcomes |
Core outcomes reported: Pain (Numeric Rating Scale); function (Aberdeen Back Pain Scale)
Follow‐up time periods available for syntheses: 8 weeks (short); 16 weeks (moderate) |
| Notes |
Conflicts of interest: Not reported
Funding source: Hong Kong Polytechnic University Area of Strategy Development Fund; Tung Wah Board Fund
Other: Information modified for author contact |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Blinding of care provider (performance bias) |
High risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Participants analysed in group allocated (attrition bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Groups similar at baseline (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Co‐interventions avoided or similar (performance bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Compliance acceptable in all groups (performance bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
| Timing of outcome assessment similar in all groups (detection bias) |
Low risk |
Support for judgement is not available |
