| Methods |
Non‐randomised CCT
‐ Alternate allocation
‐ Setting: US Army General Hospital, Germany
‐ Funding: not reported
‐ Follow‐up: not reported |
| Participants |
143 participants with mix of acute and chronic low‐back pain
Gender and age not described. 117 participants completed follow‐up.
Inclusion criteria: Non‐specific low back pain.
Exclusion criteria: Definite diagnosis of disk herniation |
| Interventions |
1) Hot packs: twice daily for 20 mins, across lumbosacral area (n = 59).
2) Ice massage: twice daily with cubes of ice across lumbosacral area, moved slowly until numbing occurred, usually 10 to 12 mins (n = 58).
Cointerventions: All participants also performed flexion exercises. |
| Outcomes |
1) Pain ‐ participant reported change in symptoms ‐ minimal, moderate or marked increase or decrease in pain, or no change.
2) Length of hospitalisation
3) Muscular spasm ‐ not described how measured
Timing of outcome measures: time of discharge |
| Notes |
Language: English
Additional information from authors: No
Author conclusions: "Ice massage and hot packs seem equally effective in the symptomatic relief of low back pain." |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Adequate sequence generation? |
High risk |
|
| Allocation concealment? |
High risk |
Alternate allocation |
| Blinding?
All outcomes ‐ patients? |
High risk |
|
| Blinding?
All outcomes ‐ providers? |
High risk |
|
| Blinding?
All outcomes ‐ outcome assessors? |
High risk |
|
| Incomplete outcome data addressed?
All outcomes ‐ drop‐outs? |
Low risk |
|
| Incomplete outcome data addressed?
All outcomes ‐ ITT analysis? |
High risk |
|
| Similarity of baseline characteristics? |
Unclear risk |
Unclear from text |
| Co‐interventions avoided or similar? |
Unclear risk |
Cointerventions: All participants also performed flexion exercises. |
| Compliance acceptable? |
Low risk |
|
| Timing outcome assessments similar? |
Unclear risk |
Unclear from text |
