Quality of the primary RCTs included in the systematic reviews/meta-analyses and meta-analyses quantitative results
| First author, year, country | Primary studies quality. GRADE | Meta-analysis data |
| Musculoskeletal conditions: low back pain | ||
| De Oliveira Meirelles, 2013,24 Brazil | Pedro score: 6 (2 RCTs), 9 (1 RCT), 7 (1 RCT), 5 (1 RCT). | NP |
| Franke, 2014,25 Australia | Low RoB (13 RCTs, low risk of bias in at least six categories). High RoB (2 RCTs). | |
| GRADE | ||
| ANSLBP and CNSLBP | ||
| Pain: MODERATE | Pain: (MD −12.91; 95% CI: –20.00 to –5.82). I2=86%. | |
| Functional status: MODERATE | Functional status: (SMD −0.36; 95% CI: −0.58 to –0.14). I2=57%. | |
| CNSLBP | ||
| Pain: MODERATE | Pain: (MD −14.93; 95% CI: –25.18 to –4.68). I2=89%. | |
| Functional status: HIGH | Functional status: (SMD −0.32; 95% CI: −0.58 to –0.07). I2=49%. | |
| NSLBP in pregnancy | ||
| Pain: LOW | Pain: (MD −23.01; 95% CI: –44.13 to –1.88). I2=91%. | |
| Functional status: LOW | Functional status: (SMD −0.80; 95% CI: −1.36 to –0.23). I2=76%. | |
| NSLBP in PP | ||
| Pain: MODERATE | Pain: (MD −41.85; 95% CI: –49.43 to –34.27). I2=0%. | |
| Functional status: MODERATE | Functional status: (SMD −1.78; 95% CI: −2.21 to –1.35). I2=0%. | |
| Franke, 2017,26 Australia | Low RoB (all RCTs, low risk of bias in at least six categories). | |
| GRADE | ||
| NSLBP in pregnancy | ||
| Pain: MODERATE | Pain: (MD −16.75; 95% CI: –31.79 to –1.72). I2=94%. | |
| Functional status: MODERATE | Functional status: (SMD −0.50; 95% CI: −0.93 to –0.07). I2=84%. | |
| LBP in PP | ||
| Pain: LOW | Pain: (MD −38.00; 95% CI: –46.75 to –29.24). I2=68%. | |
| Functional status: LOW | Functional status: (SMD −2.12; 95% CI: −3.02 to –1.22). I2=81%. | |
| Dal Farra, 2020,27 Italy | High RoB (all RCTs). | |
| GRADE | ||
| CNSLBP | ||
| Pain: LOW | Pain: (SMD −0.57; 95% CI: −0.90 to –0.25). I2=72%. | |
| Functional status: LOW | Functional status: (SMD −0.34; 95% CI: – 0.65 to –0.03). I2=71%. | |
| Functional status (12 weeks follow-up): LOW | Functional status 12 weeks follow-up: (SMD −0.14; 95% CI: −0.31 to 0.03). I2=0%. | |
| Musculoskeletal conditions: neck pain | ||
| Franke, 2015,28 Australia | Low RoB (all RCTs, low risk of bias in at least six categories). | |
| GRADE | ||
| CNSNP | ||
| Pain: MODERATE | Pain: (MD −13.04, 95% CI: –20.64 to –5.44). I2=34%. | |
| Functional status: MODERATE | Functional status: (SMD: −0.38, 95% CI: −0.88 to 0.11). I2=0%. | |
| Musculoskeletal conditions: chronic non-cancer pain | ||
| Rehman, 2020,29 Canada | High RoB (all RCTs, based on a modified RoB with six domains). | |
| GRADE | ||
| CNCP | ||
| Pain: MODERATE | Pain (OMT vs SC): (SMD – 0.37; 95% CI: – 0.58 to –0.17). I2=25%. | |
| Disability: MODERATE | Disability (OMT vs SC): (SMD −1.04; 95% CI: – 1.23 to –0.85). I2=0%. | |
| Quality of life: MODERATE | Quality of life (OMT vs SC): (SMD 0.67; 95% CI: 0.29 to 1.05). I2=0%. | |
| Paediatric conditions | ||
| Posadzki, 2013,30 South Korea | High risk (all RCTs). | NP |
| Neurology conditions | ||
| Cerritelli, 2017,31 Italy | JADAD NR*. The majority of RCTs have high or unclear RoB. | NP |
| Visceral conditions | ||
| Muller, 2014,32 Australia | Low RoB (all RCTs, low risk of bias in at least six categories). | NP |
*Reported in methods but not performed.
ANSLBP, acute non-specific low back pain; CNCP, chronic non-cancer pain; CNP, chronic neck pain; CNSBP, chronic non-specific body pain; CNSLBP, chronic non- specific low back pain; CNSNP, chronic non-specific neck pain; MD, mean difference; NP, not performed; NR, not reported; OMT, osteopathic manipulative treatment; PP, postpartum; RCT, randomised controlled trial; RoB, risk of bias; SC, standard care; SMD, standard mean difference.