Table 8 Quality items and scores of two studies using V-wave as outcome measures included in a systematic review on the effect of spinal manipulation on ‘brain function’

1st Author

Yr of publication

Ref

-Were study subjects in sham controlled studies reported to be blind? (Yes / No / Unclear)

-If yes / unclear, was the blinding tested for success? (Yes / No)

-If yes, was it successful? (Yes / No)

-Were study subjects in studies with control group reported to be naive? (Yes / No / Unclear)

-Was the origin of the subjects reported (Yes / No)

-If yes, does it allow to exclude any interest? (Yes / No / Unclear)

Were study subjects reported to have been randomly allocated to study groups? (Yes / No / Unclear)

Were study groups comparable in relation to symptoms when studying symptomatic subjects (duration and pain intensity) (NA when cross-over study design)? (Yes / No)

Were the intervention and control(s) well described (at least where and how)? (Yes / No)

Was the assessor reported to be blind to group allocation? (Yes / No)

Were losses and exclusions of study subjects reported or obvious in result section (including in tables or graphs)? (Yes / No / Unclear)

Was the person who statistically analyzed the data reported to be blind to group allocation? (Yes / No)

Comments by the technical experts (i) on the statistical analysis, and (ii) in relation to the methodology and/or technical aspects

Quality score (risk of bias, also including an external validity criteria)

and classification