Table 19 Results of different exercise types compared to control interventions for pain and disability. Walking

Lawford et al. (2016) [20]

AMSTAR-2 Moderate

Disability:

ODI, RMDQ

Follow-up:

4 wks to 12 mo

NA

Walking > control group

(1 trial)

Walking = control group

(2 trials)

Walking < control group

(2 trials)

Low quality evidence that walking is as effective as other non-pharmacological interventions for disability improvement.

Sitthipornvorakul et al. (2018) [69]

AMSTAR-2 High

Pain:

NR

Disability:

NR

Follow-up:

Short-term: < 3mo

Intermediate term: 3mo-12mo

Long-term: > 12mo

Walking alone = other non-pharmacological interventions:

Short-term:

SMD = 0.07 (95%CI -0.31; 0.46)

Intermediate term:

SMD = 0.06 (95%CI -0.43; 0.56)

Walking + Exercise = other non-pharmacological intervention

Short-term:

SMD = 0.04 (95%CI -0.26; 0.34)

Intermediate term:

SMD = 0.00 (95%CI -0.39; 0.39)

Walking alone vs other non-pharmacological interventions

Short-term:

SMD = 0.03 (95%CI -0.36; 0.42)

Intermediate term:

SMD = 0.15 (95%CI -0.52; 0.82)

Walking + Exercise = other non-pharmacological interventions

Short-term:

SMD = -0.08 95%CI (-0.38; 0.21)

Intermediate term:

SMD = 0.19 95%CI (-0.58; 0.20)

Low- to moderate-quality evidence that walking is as effective as other non-pharmacological interventions for pain and disability improvement.

Vanti et al. (2019) [45]

AMSTAR-2 Moderate

Pain:

NRS, VAS, LBPRS

Disability:

ODI, LBPFS

Follow-up:

Short-term: < 3mo

Intermediate term: 3mo-6mo

Long-term: > 6mo after randomization

Walking alone vs exercise

Short-term:

SMD = -0.17 (95%CI -0.45; 0.10)

Intermediate term:

SMD = -0.18 (95%CI -0.46; 0.10)

Long-term:

SMD = -0.22 (95%CI -0.51; 0.06)

Walking + Exercise vs exercise alone

Short-term:

SMD = -0.09 (95%CI -0.56; 0.38)

Walking alone vs exercise

Short-term:

SMD = -0.11 (95%CI -0.36; 0.13)

Intermediate term:

SMD = -0.08 (95%CI -0.36; 0.20)

Long-term:

SMD = -0.17 (95%CI -0.46; 0.11)

Walking + Exercise vs exercise alone

Short-term:

SMD = -0.28 (95%CI -0.75; 0.19)

Pain and disability were similarly improved by walking or exercise, no additional improvement when walking is added to exercise

The low clinical relevance of the outcome was not sufficient to make recommendations.