Abstract
Objective
To describe the dose components and choice justifications in exercise interventions
in a convenient sample of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
Data Sources
We searched the following databases: PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled
Trials in 2014.
Study Selection
We included published RCTs evaluating preventive or therapeutic interventions in people
with clinical conditions or at risk to develop health problems.
Data Extraction
Two reviewers independently extracted data and evaluated the adequacy of the justifications.
We contacted and invited the trials authors to complete an online survey to ask for
additional information on dose justifications and dose-effect relation.
Data Synthesis
We included 187 published RCTs. Of these, 68 (36%) reported a justification for the
dose choice, and 135 (72%) reported 3 doses components. Most reported components were
duration (96%) and frequency (93%). Sixty-six survey responders (response rate, 35%)
provided additional information. When combining the publications and survey responses,
104 (56%) trials had a justification for the dose choice. We judged justifications
adequate in 45 (43%) articles. From the survey responders, 39% indicated that intensity
was the dose component that can have the greatest effect on their study results.
Conclusions
Most of the published RCTs adequately reported the dose components of their exercise
interventions but only a small number provided sufficient justifications for dosage
choices. Further studies are recommended to justify the exercise intervention dose
choices.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
RCT (randomized controlled trial)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 29, 2017
Footnotes
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
