Levels of evidence and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scores for all included studies
| Paper | Year | Level of evidence | Total PEDro score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbic et al15 | 2005 | 1b | 6 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Benson et al16 | 1999 | 2b | 4 | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 |
| Collins et al17 | 2006 | 2b | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 |
| Hollis et al22 | 2009 | 2b | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 |
| Kemp et al23 | 2008 | 2b | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 |
| Kerr et al18 | 2015 | 2b | 4 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Labella et al26 | 2002 | 2b | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | – |
| Marshall et al24 | 2005 | 2b | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 |
| McGuine et al19 | 2014 | 2b | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 |
| McIntosh | 2001 | 2b | 5 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| McIntosh and McCrory25 | 2009 | 1b | 5 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Stuart et al28 | 2002 | 2b | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 |
| Thompson et al14 | 1996 | 3b | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 |
| Winters and DeMont21 | 2014 | 2b | 3 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | – |
| Wisniewski et al27 | 2004 | 2b | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 |
The PEDro scale is optimal for evaluating randomised controlled trials; therefore, it should be interpreted with caution in the studies included here as many are non-randomised. (1) Eligibility criteria specified; (2) random allocation of participants; (3) allocation concealed; (4) similar groups at baseline; (5) blinding of participants; (6) blinding of intervention providers; (7) blinding of outcome assessors; (8) outcomes obtained from 85% of participants; (9) use of intent-to-treat analysis if protocol violated; (10) between-group statistical comparison; (11) point measures and measures of variability.
A ‘1’ indicates a ‘yes’ score and a ‘–’ indicates a ‘no’ score. Note that item (1) is not utilised in calculating the total PEDro score.