Table 7
Risk of Bias of Randomized Controlled Trials Based on the ROB 1 Tool Criteria
| Study | Selection bias | Performance bias | Detection bias | Attrition bias | Reporting bias | Selection bias | Other bias | Over all risk of bias | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Method of randomization | Treatment allocation concealed | Patient blinded to the intervention | Care provider blinded to the intervention | Outcome assessor blinded to the intervention | Drop-out rate | Intention to treat analysis | Free from selective outcome reporting | Similarity of group baseline characteristics | Co-interventions avoided or comparable | Compliance acceptable in all groups | Timing of outcome assessment similar | outcome measurement tools, conflicts of interest and funding | ||
| Ahlqwist et al. (2008) [32] | Low | Low | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Low | High | Unclear | Unclear | Low | Low | High |
| Evans et al. (2018) [33] | Low | Low | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | 12 weeks: SMT + ET: 1/93 (1.1%) ET: 4/92 (4.3%) | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Unclear |
| Fanucci et al. (2009) [34] | Low | Low | High | High | High | 3 months: Exercise: 0%; No treatment: 3% | Unclear | Low | Unclear | Unclear | Low | Low | Low | High |
| Jones et al. (2007) [35, 36] | Unclear | Low | High | High | High | Control: 13% Exercise: 13% | High | Low | Unclear | Unclear | Low | Low | Unclear | High |
| Jung et al. (2020) [37] | Low | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Low | Unclear | High |
| Ng et al. (2015) [38] | Low | Low | High | Low | High | 8 weeks: Cognitive functional approach: 11.8% Active control: 5.3% 12 weeks: Cognitive functional approach: 11.8% Active control: 5.3% | Unclear | Low | Low | Unclear | Low | Low | Low | High |
| Selhorst et al. (2015) [22] | Low | Unclear | Unclear | Low | Unclear | 4 weeks (PSFS, NPRS): Sham + Exercise: 35.2% Manipulation + Exercise: 22.2% 6 months (chronic symptoms, recurrence of symptoms, additional treatment): Sham + Exercise: 11.8% Manipulation + Exercise: 5.6% | Low | Low | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Low | Low | High |
| Vitman et al. (2022) [39] | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Total drop-out: 7.4%. Unclear about the group allocation of the drop-outs | High | Low | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Low | Low | High |