Table 1 Inclusion criteria

Design

- Observational studies

- Randomised or quasi-randomised trials

- English language studies

Participants

- Individuals with musculoskeletal pain, but not specific subgroups, such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and whiplash, that have been shown to differ in their response to pain.

Intervention

- Aerobic physical activity

Comparisons

- Aerobic physical activity versus control

- Aerobic physical activity and intervention A versus intervention A

Outcome measures

- Pain sensitisation, including pressure or thermal pain thresholds or pain ratings