Treatment modality Disease Specific treatment modality | Reviews (n) | Direction of effect | GRADE quality of evidence |
Education and self-management | |||
RA | 8 | o/+ | ⊕⊕ |
SpA | 1 | o | ⊕⊕ |
OA-general | 6 | o/+ | ⊕⊕⊕ |
OA-hand/wrist | 1 | o | ⊕ |
OA-hip/knee | 4 | + | ⊕⊕⊕ |
OA-knee | 4 | + | ⊕⊕⊕ |
Orthotics | |||
RA | |||
Orthotic gloves | 2 | o/+ | ⊕⊕ |
Splints | 5 | o/+ | ⊕⊕ |
Insoles | 8 | o/+ | ⊕⊕ |
Orthopaedic shoes | 3 | + | ⊕⊕ |
Padded hosiery | 1 | + | ⊕ |
OA-hand/wrist | |||
Orthotic gloves | 1 | o | ⊕ |
Splints | 8 | + | ⊕⊕ |
OA hip | |||
Insoles | 1 | + | ⊕ |
OA-knee | |||
Braces | 10 | ?/+ | ⊕⊕ |
Sleeves | 1 | + | ⊕⊕ |
Elastic bandages | 2 | + | ⊕⊕ |
Taping | 3 | ?/+ | ⊕⊕ |
Orthoses in general | 1 | + | ⊕⊕ |
Insoles | 15 | ?/+ | ⊕⊕ |
Orthopaedic shoes | 1 | + | ⊕⊕ |
Cane | 1 | + | ⊕⊕ |
Psychological interventions | |||
RA | |||
Cognitive–behavioural therapy | 7 | + | ⊕⊕⊕ |
Biofeedback | 1 | + | ⊕⊕ |
SpA | |||
Cognitive–behavioural therapy | 1 | o | ⊕ |
OA-general | |||
Cognitive–behavioural therapy | 1 | + | ⊕⊕⊕ |
Psychosocial and coping interventions | 1 | + | ⊕⊕⊕ |
Relaxation techniques | 1 | + | ⊕ |
OA-hip/knee | |||
Relaxation techniques | 1 | + | ⊕ |
OA-knee | |||
Biofeedback | 1 | o | ⊕ |
Weight management | |||
RA | 2 | + | ⊕⊕ |
SpA | 1 | + | ⊕ |
OA-hip/knee | 2 | + | ⊕⊕⊕ |
OA-knee | 10 | o/+ | ⊕⊕⊕ |
Multimodal treatment | |||
RA | |||
Comprehensive occupational therapy | 1 | o | ⊕⊕ |
OA-hand/wrist | |||
Multidisciplinary therapy | 1 | o | ⊕⊕ |
OA knee | |||
Comprehensive physical therapy | 1 | o | ⊕⊕⊕ |
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.