Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria
From: Quality of reporting of randomised controlled trials in chiropractic using the CONSORT checklist
Inclusion Criteria |
 RCTs with parallel or cross-over study design |
 Adult study populations with musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal with conditions or no condition |
 Chiropractic high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA), musculoskeletal manipulation |
 Treatment must include chiropractic manipulation, either spinal or peripheral (or both) with/without adjunctive therapy (mobilization, soft tissue therapy, massage, traction, electro-therapies, ultrasound, exercise advice, ergonomic advice, hot/cold therapy, back education) |
 Comparators: HVLA, placebo, sham treatment or conventional/standard/usual care treatment, or no treatment |
Exclusion Criteria |
 Reviews, systematic reviews and meta-analyses |
 Non-randomised trial designs (quasi-experimental, observational studies) |
 Pilot or feasibility studies |
 Studies with n-of-1 |
 Studies evaluating diagnostic tests, prevention, prognosis, cost-effectiveness, pathophysiological or mechanophysiological mechanisms, validation of questionnaires |
 Trials not reported as full papers (abstracts), editorials, commentaries, letters, case reports or series, audits, guidelines, historical articles |
 Methodological/Protocol, epidemiological and qualitative studies |
 Studies reporting updates of previously published RCTs |