What do systematic reviews say?

Exercise therapy vs Placebo (sham/placebo device)

It is very uncertain whether exercise therapy changes pain compared with sham/placebo treatment (very low certainty).

• Exercise therapy for treatment of acute non‐specific low back pain 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 299 participants
  Very low

Exercise therapy vs no treatment

• Exercise therapy for treatment of acute non‐specific low back pain 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 157 participants
  Very low

Exercise therapy vs no treatment four to six weeks after lumbar disc surgery

• Rehabilitation after lumbar disc surgery 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  272 participants
  Very low

Exercise vs Placebo, no intervention or usual care (with or without placebo)

• Exercise therapy for chronic low back pain 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2746 participants
  Moderate

Exercise vs other conservative treatment

• Exercise therapy for chronic low back pain 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  6295 participants
  Low

Chronic CGH: Cervical/Scapulothoracic Strengthening with Endurance Training + Craniocervical Pressure Biofeedback + Dynamic Cervical Stabilization + Manual Therapy vs manual therapy

Chronic CGH: Cervical/Scapulothoracic Strengthening with Endurance… showed no clear difference in pain Intensity: 6 weeks treatment VAS 0 no pain to 10 worst pain ( compared with manual Therapy (moderate certainty).

• Exercises for mechanical neck disorders 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 96 participants
  Moderate