Methodological quality score of relevant studies
| Reference | Study design | A1 | A2 | A3 | A4 | B | C | D | E1 | E2 | E3 | F1 | F2 | F3 | G | Total score | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahr et al16* | Prospective | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | 9 | 82 |
| Barrett et al17 | RCT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 93 |
| Cumps et al23† | CT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 85 |
| Curtis et al24* | Prospective | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – | 8 | 73 |
| Emery et al25 | RCT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 100 |
| Emery et al26 | RCT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 100 |
| Engebretsen et al27 | RCT | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 71 |
| Garrick and Requa18 | RCT | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 71 |
| Holme et al28 | RCT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 64 |
| Hupperets et al29 | RCT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 79 |
| McGuine and Keene30 | RCT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 86 |
| McHugh et al31† | CT | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 54 |
| Mickel et al32 | RCT | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 64 |
| Mohammadi33 | RCT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 93 |
| Moiler et al34† | CT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 69 |
| Olsen et al35 | RCT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 93 |
| Petersen et al36† | CT | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 69 |
| Rovere et al19* | Retrospective | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 9 | 82 |
| Sitler et al20 | RCT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 93 |
| Söderman et al37 | RCT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 93 |
| Stasinopoulos38 | RCT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 43 |
| Surve et al21 | RCT | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 64 |
| Tropp et al22 | RCT | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 64 |
| Verhagen et al39† | CT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 92 |
| Wedderkopp et al40 | RCT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 64 |
↵* This study was a non-randomised prospective or retrospective study. Therefore, a score for B (Is a randomisation procedure mentioned?), C (Are the intervention and control group homogenous with regard to the subject characteristics?) and G (Are the dropouts described for each group separately?) could not be assessed.
↵† This study was a non-randomized controlled trial (RCT). Therefore, a score for B (Is a randomisation procedure mentioned?) could not be assessed.
CT, controlled trial.