Table 1 Baseline characteristics by arm

Gender: Male

18 (40.0 %)

17 (38.6 %)

35 (39.3 %)

Age (years): Mean (standard deviation)

43.7 (16.33)

45.4 (15.82)

44.6 (16.01)

Main employment status

Working full time

18 (40.0 %)

24 (54.5 %)

42 (47.2 %)

Working part time

5 (11.1 %)

7 (15.9 %)

12 (13.5 %)

At home and not looking for work

5 (11.1 %)

2 (4.5 %)

7 (7.9 %)

Unemployed and looking for work

7 (15.6 %)

1 (2.3 %)

8 (9.0 %)

Retired

8 (17.8 %)

7 (15.9 %)

15 (16.9 %)

Unable to work

1 (2.2 %)

2 (4.5 %)

3 (3.4 %)

Other

1 (2.2 %)

1 (2.3 %)

2 (2.2 %)

Age participant left full time education

(n = 43)

(n = 41)

(n = 84)

16 or less

25 (58.1 %)

21 (51.2 %)

46 (54.8 %)

17-20

12 (27.9 %)

13 (31.7 %)

25 (29.8 %)

21 or over

6 (14.0 %)

6 (14.6 %)

12 (14.3 %)

Unknown

0 (0.0 %)

1 (2.4 %)

1 (1.2 %)

BPI pain interference score < =5

25 (55.6 %)

25 (56.8 %)

50 (56.2 %)

Duration of current episode of lower back pain (months)

(n = 45)

(n = 43)

(n = 88)

Mean (standard deviation)

42.4 (37.97)

44.6 (36.09)

43.5 (36.87)

Median (range)

27.0 (3.0, 99.0)

36.0 (3.0, 99.0)

36.0 (3.0, 99.0)

First episode of pain: Yes

21 (46.7 %)

18 (40.9 %)

39 (43.8 %)

Other treatment received in the past

(n = 24)

(n = 26)

(n = 50)

Physiotherapy

12 (50.0 %)

19 (73.1 %)

31 (62.0 %)

Medication

17 (70.8 %)

18 (69.2 %)

35 (70.0 %)

Manipulation

8 (33.3 %)

7 (26.9 %)

15 (30.0 %)

Acupuncture

5 (20.8 %)

4 (15.4 %)

9 (18.0 %)

Chiropractor

1 (4.2 %)

1 (3.8 %)

2 (4.0 %)

Osteopath

2 (8.3 %)

0 (0.0 %)

2 (4.0 %)

Other

3 (12.5 %)

6 (23.1 %)

9 (18.0 %)

None

3 (12.5 %)

2 (7.7 %)

5 (10.0 %)