Table 1

Overview of systematic reviews of randomised trials (evidence category 1A) regarding education, orthotics, psychological interventions, weight management and multimodal treatment: treatment modality and disease, direction of effect and the quality of the evidence according to GRADE in patients with RA, SpA and OA

Treatment modality
  Disease
Specific treatment modality		Reviews
(n)		Direction of effectGRADE quality of evidence
Education and self-management
  RA8o/+⊕⊕
  SpA1o⊕⊕
  OA-general6o/+⊕⊕⊕
  OA-hand/wrist1o⊕
  OA-hip/knee4+⊕⊕⊕
  OA-knee4+⊕⊕⊕
Orthotics
  RA
   Orthotic gloves2o/+⊕⊕
   Splints5o/+⊕⊕
   Insoles8o/+⊕⊕
   Orthopaedic shoes3+⊕⊕
   Padded hosiery1+⊕
  OA-hand/wrist
   Orthotic gloves1o⊕
   Splints8+⊕⊕
  OA hip
   Insoles1+⊕
  OA-knee
   Braces10?/+⊕⊕
   Sleeves1+⊕⊕
   Elastic bandages2+⊕⊕
   Taping3?/+⊕⊕
   Orthoses in general1+⊕⊕
   Insoles15?/+⊕⊕
   Orthopaedic shoes1+⊕⊕
   Cane1+⊕⊕
Psychological interventions
  RA
   Cognitive–behavioural therapy7+⊕⊕⊕
   Biofeedback1+⊕⊕
  SpA
   Cognitive–behavioural therapy1o⊕
  OA-general
   Cognitive–behavioural therapy1+⊕⊕⊕
   Psychosocial and coping interventions1+⊕⊕⊕
   Relaxation techniques1+⊕
  OA-hip/knee
   Relaxation techniques1+⊕
  OA-knee
   Biofeedback1o⊕
Weight management
  RA2+⊕⊕
  SpA1+⊕
  OA-hip/knee2+⊕⊕⊕
  OA-knee10o/+⊕⊕⊕
Multimodal treatment
  RA
   Comprehensive occupational therapy1o⊕⊕
  OA-hand/wrist
   Multidisciplinary therapy1o⊕⊕
  OA knee
   Comprehensive physical therapy1o⊕⊕⊕

  • Diseases without a review were excluded from the table.

  • Direction of effect:+, positive; o, no; −, negative; ?, unclear (effect equivocal), or a combination thereof meaning that different reviews reached different conclusions about the effect of the treatment.

  • References are shown in online supplementary file 2.

  • GRADE, ⊕⊕⊕⊕, high; ⊕⊕⊕, moderate; ⊕⊕, low; ⊕, very low.

  • GRADE, Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation; OA, osteoarthritis; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; SpA, spondyloarthritis.