Table 3 Subgroup analysis of effect of exercise intervention on lower back pain

Types of exercise

core stability

17

< 0.00001

88%

-1.18(-1.61, -0.76)

< 0.00001

Tai Ji

4

< 0.00001

92%

-1.59(-2.65, -0.52)

= 0.004

aquatic therapy

5

= 0.16

39%

-0.67(-0.91, -0.43)

< 0.0001

yoga

4

= 0.11

50%

-1.97(-2.39, -1.54)

< 0.00001

sling exercise

5

< 0.0001

86%

-1.88(-2.92, -0.84)

= 0.0004

combined training

7

= 0.02

59%

-0.62(-0.91, -0.33)

< 0.0001

Exercise Duration

\(\:\le\:\)30 min

12

< 0.00001

91%

-1.31(-1.88, -0.74)

< 0.00001

35 ~ 50 min

9

= 0.01

59%

-0.92(-1.21, -0.62)

< 0.00001

\(\:\ge\:\)60 min

12

< 0.00001

75%

-1.08 (-1.45, -0.71)

< 0.00001

Exercise Frequency

< 3 times/w

12

< 0.00001

83%

-1.04(-1.47, -0.61)

< 0.00001

3 ~ 4 times/w

20

< 0.00001

83%

-1.10(-1.42, -0.77)

< 0.00001

> 4 times/w

10

< 0.00001

90%

-1.56(-2.17, -0.96)

< 0.00001

Exercise Cycle

\(\:\le\:\)4w

11

< 0.00001

89%

-1.61(-2.18, -1.04)

< 0.00001

5 ~ 8w

19

< 0.00001

73%

-0.80(-1.06, -0.54)

< 0.00001

> 12w

12

< 0.00001

89%

-1.43(-1.96, -0.89)

< 0.00001

Sample Size

< 30 cases

6

= 0.06

52%

-1.17(-1.80, -0.55)

= 0.0002

30 ~ 60 cases

24

< 0.00001

87%

-1.36(-1.75, -0.96)

< 0.00001

> 60 cases

12

< 0.00001

88%

-1.00 (-1.35, -0.65)

< 0.00001

Research Quality

low risk of bias

13

< 0.00001

83%

-0.85(-1.23, -0.46)

< 0.0001

moderate risk of bias

29

< 0.00001

86%

-1.37 (-1.67, -1.07)

< 0.00001

high risk of bias

—

—

—

—

—

Outcome Indicator

VAS/NRS

22

< 0.00001

86%

-1.54(-1.89, -1.19)

< 0.00001

ODI

11

= 0.003

62%

-3.35(-4.47, -2.22)

< 0.00001

RMDQ

9

< 0.00001

92%

-2.25(-4.14, -0.76)

= 0.004

Types of control group

CE

11

< 0.00001

84%

-1.04 (-1.45,-0.62)

< 0.00001

PF

9

< 0.00001

92%

-1.85 (-2.59,-1.10)

< 0.00001

CE + PF

4

= 0.32

15%

-0.52 (-0.80,-0.23)

= 0.0005

NI-EPF

15

< 0.00001

78%

-1.08(-1.43,-0.73)

< 0.00001