Criterion/a | Examples |
---|---|
Anatomical region | Pain between bottom of ribs and buttock creases |
If pain below buttock creases is excluded; state any explicit criteria for exclusions | Pain radiating below knee or objective neurological signs in leg |
Age | Adults – with restrictions by age only if good scientific/clinical reason |
Duration | Back pain problem that has persisted at least 3 months and has resulted in pain on at least half the days in the past 6 months |
Serious causes of LBP excluded | Malignancy, vertebral fracture, infections |
Rheumatologic conditions excluded | Ankylosing spondylitis or related conditions |
Systemic conditions excluded | Cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, gastrointestinal, urogenital or related conditions |
Baseline severity for studies of treatment (i.e not prevention) | NRS/VAS ≥ 4/40, or ≥ 15% of score range of a disability measure (e.g 4/24 for RMDQ) |
Other patient-characteristics excluded | Pregnancy, medico-legal issues, not understanding language, previous or scheduled surgery, psychiatric disorders |
Study specific criteria | Workers or men or with/without depression |