Table 3 Baseline characteristics of pain, movement control of the low back, physical fitness, and work-related factors
|  | Pilates-type NME group (n = 110) | Controls (no exercise) (n = 109) | Missing | p-value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | % | Mean (SD) | % | Mean (SD) | Â | Â |
VAS: intensity of LBP (0–100) |  | 36.3 (22.0) |  | 36.0 (23.4) | 1 | 0.94 |
Bodily pain interfering with work (0–100)a |  | 61.5 (18.7) |  | 64.4 (19.3) | 8 | 0.28 |
MCI sum (0–4) |  | 1.0 (1.0) |  | 1.1 (1.0) |  | 0.94 |
Deficiencies in MCI test battery | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | 0.91 |
 0 | 35.5 |  | 33.0 |  |  |  |
 1 | 35.5 |  | 35.8 |  |  |  |
 2–4 | 29.1 |  | 31.2 |  |  |  |
Fitness components: | ||||||
 6MWT |  | 619.4 (50.4) |  | 624.0 (48.3) | 1 |  |
 Modified sit-ups |  | 17.2 (4.6) |  | 18.4 (3.7) | 1 | 0.02 |
  % reaching the maximum of 20 | 61.5 |  | 75.2 |  |  | 0.03 |
 One-legged squats |  | 9.4 (2.7) |  | 9.5 (2.4) | 3 | 0.72 |
 Modified push-ups |  | 9.0 (3.4) |  | 9.0 (2.8) | 6 | 0.94 |
Work-related factors: | ||||||
 Difficulties in patient handling (0–80) |  | 6.0 (4.9) |  | 6.6 (5.2) | 13 | 0.43 |
 Work-induced lumbar exertion |  |  |  |  |  | 0.45 |
  little exertion | 26.9 |  | 31.5 |  | 3 |  |
  moderate to high exertion | 73.1 |  | 68.5 |  |  |  |
 Tiredness and recovery from work (4–18) |  | 10.4 (3.4) |  | 10.0 (3.2) | 1 | 0.20 |