Table 3. Risk of bias summary for included studies (n=8) Lead Random Allocation Blinding Incomplete Selective Other author, year sequence concealment (performance outcome reporting bias generation (selection and detection) data (reporting (selection bias) (attrition bias) bias) bias) Bilberg, + ? ? + + ? (2005)27 Durcan, + ? ? + ? ? (2014)38 Evans, ? ? - + + - (2013)28 Feldthusen, + + - + ? ? (2016)39 Hakkinen, ? ? ? + + - (2003)29 Harkcom, ? + - - - ? (1985)30 Neuberger, + ? - + - + (2007)31 Wang, + + ? + - - (2008)32 + = low risk; ? = unclear risk; - = high risk Table 4: Reasons for judgement of the risk of other sources of bias Lead Risk of other Reason for judgement of risk of bias author, sources of bias (year) Bilberg, ? No reporting of monitoring of adherence of control arm to (2005)27 home exercise and daily activities Durcan, ? No reporting of adherence to physical activity or exercise in (2014)38 either arm Evans, - $10 travel expenses paid for intervention participants (2013)28 travelling more than 25 miles Feldthusen, ? No reported monitoring of access to treatment associated (2016)39 with care, e.g. physiotherapy, in control arm Hakkinen, - Control group performed exercises, n=3 started exercising in (2003)29 a gym, monitoring by diaries not reported for control arm
Table 3. Risk of bias summary for included studies (n=8) Lead author, year Random sequence generation (selection bias) Allocation concealment (selection bias) Blinding (performance and detection) Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) Selective reporting (reporting bias) Other bias Bilberg, (2005)27 + ? ? + + ? Durcan, (2014)38 + ? ? + ? ? Evans, (2013)28 ? ? - + + - Feldthusen, (2016)39 + + - + ? ? Hakkinen, (2003)29 ? ? ? + + - Harkcom, (1985)30 ? + - - - ? Neuberger, (2007)31 + ? - + - + Wang, (2008)32 + + ? + - - + = low risk; ? = unclear risk; - = high risk Table 4: Reasons for judgement of the risk of other sources of bias Lead author, (year) Risk of other sources of bias Reason for judgement of risk of bias Bilberg, (2005)27 ? No reporting of monitoring of adherence of control arm to home exercise and daily activities Durcan, (2014)38 ? No reporting of adherence to physical activity or exercise in either arm Evans, (2013)28 - $10 travel expenses paid for intervention participants travelling more than 25 miles Feldthusen, (2016)39 ? No reported monitoring of access to treatment associated with care, e.g. physiotherapy, in control arm Hakkinen, (2003)29 - Control group performed exercises, n=3 started exercising in a gym, monitoring by diaries not reported for control arm