Table 2 Operational definitions used for the previously defined trajectory subgroups
From: How can latent trajectories of back pain be translated into defined subgroups?
Subgroup label | Intensity | Variation |
|---|---|---|
Severe ongoing pain | Mean intensity > = 6 | Intensity stays within +/− 1 of mean value >4 days with LBP per week |
Moderate ongoing pain | Mean intensity > = 4 and <6 | Intensity stays within +/− 1 of mean value >4 days with LBP per week |
Mild ongoing pain | Mean intensity > = 2 and <4 | Intensity stays within +/− 1 of mean value >4 days with LBP per week |
Minor ongoing pain/ recovery | Mean intensity <2 | Stays within +/− 1 of mean value AND - no pain-free 4-weeks periods or - always pain = 0 |
Severe fluctuating pain | Mean intensity > = 6 | Difference between mean and minimum or maximum value exceeds 1 No pain-free 4-weeks periods |
Moderate fluctuating pain | Mean intensity > = 4 and <6 | Difference between mean and minimum or maximum value exceeds 1 No pain-free 4-weeks periods |
Mild fluctuating pain | Mean intensity > = 2 and <4 | Difference between mean and minimum or maximum value exceeds 1 No pain-free 4-weeks periods |
Minor fluctuating pain | Mean intensity <2 | Difference between mean and minimum or maximum value exceeds 1 No pain-free 4-weeks periods |
Severe episodic pain | Max intensity > = 6 | Pain-free periods of min. 4 weeks in a row between weeks with pain. Four weeks or more without pain in the beginning or end of the course does not indicate a new episode. |
Moderate episodic pain | Max intensity > = 4 and <6 | Pain-free periods of min. 4 weeks in a row between weeks with pain. Four weeks or more without pain in the beginning or end of the course does not indicate a new episode. |
Mild episodic pain | Max intensity > = 2 and <4 | Pain-free periods of min. 4 weeks in a row between weeks with pain. Four weeks or more without pain in the beginning or end of the course does not indicate a new episode. |
Minor episodic pain | Max intensity <2 | Pain-free periods of min. 4 weeks in a row, but not always pain = 0. Four weeks or more without pain in the beginning or end of the course does not indicate a new episode. |
Severe single episode | Max intensity > = 6 | One episode lasting 1–2 weeks (which are not the first or the last week of measurement) |
Moderate single episode | Max intensity > = 4 and <6 | One episode lasting 1–2 weeks (which are not the first or the last week of measurement) |
Mild single episode | Max intensity > = 2 and <4 | One episode lasting 1–2 weeks (which are not the first or the last week of measurement) |
Minor single episode | Max intensity <2 | One episode lasting 1–2 weeks (which are not the first or the last week of measurement) |