Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were eligible for inclusion.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies of RF procedures were eligible. The studies included in the review assessed RF treatment of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions. Treatment was compared with an active control or sham RF.
Participants included in the review
Studies of patients treated for spine-related pain, which had existed for 6 months or longer, were eligible. The patients included in the review had low-back pain, neck-shoulder pain or whiplash.
Outcomes assessed in the review
To be included, the studies had to report a measurement of pain relief, measured by a validated instrument. The included studies all used a visual analogue scale. Only the first results after completion of the trial were used in the review.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
All titles, abstracts and manuscripts were checked to ensure they met all the inclusion criteria. The number of reviewers involved was not reported.