Number of studies (participants) | Study limitations | Inconsistent results | Indirectness of evidence | Imprecision | Publication bias | Large magnitude effects | Plausible confounders | Dose–response relationship | Quality of evidence |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VAS (0–10) at 12 weeks | |||||||||
4 (127) 1 RCT 3 before–after | Serious limitations (3 studies) | Unexplained heterogeneity | Indirect | No important imprecision | Likely | USMD − 2.80 (95% CI: − 3.91, − 1.68) | Likely | Unlikely |  + , very low |
Function score (0–100) at 12 weeks | |||||||||
4 (127) 1 RCT 3 before–after | Serious limitations (3 studies) | No important inconsistency | Indirect | No important imprecision | Unlikely | Unlikely, SMD 1.73 (95% CI: 1.37, 2.09) | Likely | Unlikely |  + , very low |
Quality of life at 12Â weeks | |||||||||
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |