Trials on non specific low back pain with a conventional treatment comparator and>30 patients in the acupuncture group.

Acu = acupuncture, Con = control, na = not available,*primary endpoint from individual patient data meta-analysis (Vickers Trials 2010),**short term effect on pain scales from recent meta-analysis (Yuan Spine 2008),#standard = standardized treatment protocol, free = acupuncture as usual PRECIS: 1) Eligibility criteria, 2) Flexibility acu, 3) Practitioner expertise acu, 4) Flexibility control, 5) Practitioner Expertise control, 6) follow up, 7) Outcomes, 8)Patient compliance, 9) Practitioner adherence, 10) primary analysis IOM: 1) Informing decision making, 2) Comparing at least two alternatives, 3) Results for population and subgroups, 4) Patient relevant outcomes incl. safety, 5) Appropriate methods, 6) Setting close to reality.