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Background  Low back pain is a common health complaint resulting in substantial economic burden. Each year, upwards of 20 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating interventions for non-specific low back pain are published. Use of the term non-specific low back pain has been criticised on the grounds of encouraging heterogeneity and hampering interpretation of findings due to possible heterogeneous causes, challenging meta-analyses. We explored selection criteria used in trials of treatments for nsLBP.    Methods  A systematic review of English-language reports of RCTs in nsLBP population samples, published between 2006 and 2012, identified from MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases, using a mixed-methods approach to analysis. Study inclusion and exclusion criteria were extracted, thematically categorised, and then descriptive statistics were used to summarise the prevalence by emerging category.    Results  We included 168 studies. Two inclusion themes (anatomical area, and symptoms and signs) were identified. Anatomical area was most reported as between costal margins and gluteal folds ( n  = 8, 5%), while low back pain ( n  = 150, 89%) with or without referred leg pain ( n  = 27, 16%) was the most reported symptom. Exclusion criteria comprised 21 themes. Previous or scheduled surgery ( n  = 84, 50%), pregnancy ( n  = 81, 48%), malignancy ( n  = 78, 46%), trauma ( n  = 63, 37%) and psychological conditions ( n  = 58, 34%) were the most common. Sub-themes of exclusion criteria mostly related to neurological signs and symptoms: nerve root compromise ( n  = 44, 26%), neurological signs ( n  = 34, 20%) or disc herniation ( n  = 30, 18%). Specific conditions that were most often exclusion criteria were spondylolisthesis ( n  = 35, 21%), spinal stenosis ( n  = 31, 18%) or osteoporosis ( n  = 27, 16%).    Conclusion  RCTs of interventions for non-specific low back pain have incorporated diverse inclusion and exclusion criteria. Guidance on standardisation of inclusion and exclusion criteria for nsLBP trials will increase clinical homogeneity, facilitating greater interpretation of between-trial comparisons and meta-analyses. We propose a template for reporting inclusion and exclusion criteria.    Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (10.1186/s12891-018-2034-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria used in non-specific low back pain trials: a review of randomised controlled trials published between 2006 and 2012