Table 2 Baseline demographics for both groups

Age (Mean, SD)

45.25 (7.99)

42.79 (12.09)

Gender (%, N)

   Male

37.5 (6)

42.9 (6)

   Female

62.5 (10)

57.1 (8)

Employment (%, N)

In paid employment

68.8 (11)

78.6 (11)

Not in paid employment

31.5 (5)

21.4 (3)

Job description (%, N)

Heavy manual work

25 (4)

35.7 (5)

Light work – desk/supervisory

31.3 (5)

28.6 (4)

Homemaker

1.8 (3)

21.4 (3)

Professional

12.5 (2)

7.1 (1)

Retired

6.3 (1)

7.1 (1)

Incapacity benefit

6.3 (1)

0

Sick leave from work (%, N)

Not applicable

31.5 (5)

14.3 (2)

At work

43.8 (7)

42.9 (6)

Off work due to LBP

25 (4)

42.9 (6)

Weeks duration of LBP (Median, IQR)

6.5 (4.8)

6 (4)

Number of episodes of LBP in the past year (%, N)

None

81.3 (13

42.9 (6)

1–3

6.3 (1)

42.9 (6)

Constant LBP

12.5 (2)

14.3 (2)

Number of months since last episode of LBP (%, N)

No episodes

81.3 (13)

35.7 (5)

3–6 months

0

35.7 (5)

7–12 months

6.3 (1)

7.1 (1)

>1 year

0

7.1 (1)

Constant LBP

12.5 (2)

14.3 (2)

Previous treatment for LBP (%, N)

Yes

12.5 (2)

14.3 (2)

No

50 (8)

50 (8)

Not applicable

37.5 (6)

28.6 (4)

Participation in physical activity (%, N)

62.5 (10)

35.7 (5)

Continued with activity since onset of this episode (%, N)

18.6 (3)

21.4 (3)

Smoker (%, N)

Current smoker

25 (4)

28.6 (4)

Past smoker

6.3 (1)

21.4 (3)

None smoker

68.8 (11)

50 (7)

Neurological/Neurodynamic changes (%, N)

Reflex – reduced/absent

18.8 (3)

35.7 (5)

Muscle power – reduced/absent

37.5 (6)

50 (7)

Sensation – decreased/hypersensitive

18.8 (3)

28.6 (4)

SLR – restricted and reproducing leg pain

100 (16)

78.6 (11)

Crossed SLR

6.3 (1)

21.4 (3)

Outcome measures (Median, IQR)

RMDQ

10 (4.5)

11.5 (8.5)

MPQ-PRI

20.5 (9)

29 (20)

ALBPSQ

104 (42.5)

112 (49)

SF36 Physical component score (PCS)

31 (3.6)

36.1 (23.4)

SF36 Mental component score (MCS)

46.5 (17.2)

47.3 (21.3)

VAS back pain

5 (4.5)

5 (4.5)

VAS leg pain

7 (3.5)

5.6 (3.5)