Table 4

Quality of body of evidence based on the GRADE approach

OutcomeNumber of studiesLimitationInconsistencyIndirectnessImprecisionPublication biasUpgradeSummary/quality of evidence
Jump distance1 RCTNo serious limitationNANo serious indirectness−1None+1High ⨁⨁⨁⨁
Stability/postural control/balance2 RCTs23 25−1NoneNo serious indirectness−1None+1Moderate ⨁⨁⨁
GRF2 RCTs1 24−1NoneNo serious indirectness−1None+1Moderate ⨁⨁⨁
Knee kinematics2 RCTs1 22
1 blocked randomised design
−1NoneNo serious indirectness−1None+1Moderate ⨁⨁⨁
  • All RCTs start as high quality. Assessment criteria: limitation: based on Cochrane risk of bias assessment. Downgraded by one level if more than one unclear. Inconsistency: unexplained heterogeneity across studies. indirectness: heterogeneity for participants, intervention or outcome measure in individual studies. imprecision: if no sample size justification and calculation: downgraded by one level. Publication bias. Upgrade: if statistically significant effect: upgraded by one level.16

  • GRADE, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation; GRF, ground reaction force; RCT, randomised controlled trial.