Methodological Quality Assessment
The methodological quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was
assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) tool (21).
The PEDro is an 11-item scale; a point is awarded for each satisfied
criterion that yields a score out of ten with the first item excluded.
Scores were determined by two independent reviewers (BB, AMc). PEDro
scores were used to categorize RCTs as poor (<4), fair (4-5),
good (6-8), or excellent (9-10) quality (22). Additionally, studies were
assigned a level of evidence based on a their research design according
to a modified Sacket scale (23).