Table 2

Description of studies included in systematic review

Scores on PEDro scale*
StudyOutcome1234567891011Total score†
Buroker and Schwane15Soreness-+??---+?++4/10
Johansson et al16Soreness++?+---+?++5/10
McGlynn et al17Soreness-+?+---+?++5/10
High et al18Soreness-+??---+?+-3/10
Wessel and Wan19Soreness-+?+---??++4/10
Gulick et al20Soreness-+??---??+-2/10
Pope et al21Injury++?+--+++++7/10
Pope et al22Injury++??----?++3/10

  • ↵* Column numbers correspond to the following criteria on the PEDro scale

  • eligibility criteria were specified

  • 2subjects were randomly allocated to groups (or, in a crossover study, subjects were randomly allocated an order in which treatments were received)

  • 3allocation was concealed.

  • 4groups were similar at baseline

  • 5subjects were blinded

  • 6therapists who administered the treatment were blinded

  • 7assessors were blinded

  • 8measures of key outcomes were obtained from more than 85% of subjects

  • 9data were analysed by intention to treat

  • 10statistical comparisons between groups were conducted

  • 11point measures and measures of variability were provided.

  • ↵†The total score is determined by counting the number of criteria that are satisfied, except that scale item 1 is not used to generate the total score, so total scores are out of 10.

  • + Indicates the criterion was clearly satisfied, - indicates that it was not, ? indicates that it is not clear if the criterion was satisfied.