Abstract: Objective To systematically review the clinical efficacy of sling exercise therapy (SET) on patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP). Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCT) about SET for CNLBP were electronically searched in CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Data, PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library and Embase from June, 2007 to June, 2017. After literatures screening, data extraction, quality evaluation and risk assessment, the results of meta-analysis were conducted by RevMan 5.3 software. Results Finally, 15 RCTs involving 789 patients were included. SET was better in improving Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score (MD=-1.15, 95%CI [-1.41, -0.90], Z=8.82, P<0.00001) and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index (ODI) score (MD=-1.29, 95%CI [-1.80, -0.78], Z=4.94, P<0.00001) than physical therapy, and was better than other exercise therapies in improving the VAS score (MD=-0.94, 95%CI [-1.52, -0.37], Z=3.21, P=0.001) and ODI score (MD=-5.96, 95%CI [-9.41, -2.51], Z=3.38, P=0.0007). However, no significant difference was found in improving the NPRS score between SET and other exercise therapies (MD=0.35, 95%CI [-0.23, 0.93], Z=1.19, P=0.23), nor in improving VAS score between SET and traditional Chinese medical therapies (MD=-5.29, 95%CI [-20.27, 9.70], Z=0.69, P=0.49). Conclusion SET may play a role in relieving pain and functional limitations in patients with CNLBP. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, larger scale and high quality RCTs are needed to verify the aforementioned conclusion.

Key words: sling exercise therapy, non-specific low back pain, meta-analysis