Table 3 Distribution and prevalence of co-occurring musculoskeletal pain among individuals with persistent low back pain grouped by study population

 Jiménez-Trujillo 2019 [37]

+ neck: 2963/5189 (57.1) ♀ 2089/2963 (70.5)^a ♂ 874/2963 (29.5)^a

+ headache^d: 1130/5189 (21.8) ♀ 860/1130 (76.1) ♂ 270/1130 (23.9)

2 (neck, headache)

 Fujii 2018 [34]

+ knee: 639/3100 (20.6)

+ headache^d: 1004/3100 (32.4)

+ arms, legs or joints: 1336/3100 (43.1)

3 (knee, headache, arms/legs/joints)

 Takahashi 2018 [47]

+ knee: 364/1378 (26.4)^{a, b}

1 (knee)

 Nordstoga 2017 [43]

+  1–2 pain sites: 2331/7523 (31.0)^a ♀ 1180/2331 (50.6)^a ♂ 1151/2331 (49.4)^a

+  3–8 pain sites: 4412/7523 (58.6) ♀ 2978/4412 (67.5)^a ♂ 1434/4412 (32.4)^a

8 (neck, shoulders/ upper arms, elbows, wrists/ hands, upper back, hips, knees, ankles/ feet)

 Kamada 2014 [38]

+ knee: 152/ 605 (25.1)^c

1 (knee)

 Di lorio 2007 [32]

+ hip: 62^a/306 (20.3) + knee: 87^a/306 (28.4) + foot: 99^a/306 (32.4)

3 (hip, knee, foot)

 Weiner 2003 [48]

+ hip: 80^a/208 (38.7) + knee: 99^a/208 (47.6)

2 (hip, knee)

 Natvig 2001 [42]

+  1–3 pain sites: 167/531 (31.5)^c ♀100/167 (59.9)^c ♂ 67/167 (40.1)^c

+  4–9 pain sites (“widespread”): 244/531 (46.0)^c ♀ 162/244 (66.4)^c ♂ 82/244 (33.6)^c

9 (head^d, neck, shoulder, elbow, hand/wrist, upper back, hip, knee or ankle/foot)

 Kjellman 2001 [39]

+ neck-shoulder: 32^a/100 (32.0)

1 (neck/shoulder)

 Hoddevik 1999 [36]

+ other MSK pain: 5057/6422 (78.7)^a ♀ 3252/5057 (64.3)^a ♂ 1805/5057 (35.7)^a

1 (other MSK)

 Andersen 2013 [30]

+ neck-shoulder: ♀ 632/1089 (58.0)

+ knee: ♀ 294/1089 (27.0)

2 (neck/shoulder, knee)

 Parot-Schinkel 2013 [45]

+  1–3 pain sites: 353/616 (57.3)^a ♀ 145/264 (≈ 55)^a ♂ 208/352 (≈ 59)^a

+  4–8 pain sites: 82/616 (13.3) ♀ 50/264 (≈ 19) ♂ 32/352 (≈ 9)

8 (neck, shoulder/ arm, elbow/forarm, wrist/ hand, upper back, hip/thigh, knee/lower leg, ankle/foot)

 Rundell^e 2019 [46]

+ neck: 415/899 (46.2)

+ pelvic or groin: 251/899 (27.9)

+ headache^d: 260/899 (28.9)

+ arms, legs or joints: 801/899 (89.1) + widespread: 266/899 (29.6)

6 (neck, pelvic/groin, headache, stomach, arms/legs/joints, widespread)

 Herman 2018 [35]

+ neck: 611/1129 (54.1)^a

1 (neck)

 MacLellan 2017 [40]

+  1 pain site: 177/416 (42.6)^a

+ ≥2 pain sites: 161/416 (38.7)^a

4 (knee, other MSK [not specified which other MSK for those with persistent LBP (i.e. upper- and lower extremity, spinal /headache^d)]

 Panagopoulos 2014 [44]

1 (trunk)

 Elfving 2009 [33]

+ neck: 43/265 (16.2)^a + thoracic: 26/265 (9.8)^a + neck and thoracic: 116/265 (43.8)^a

3 (neck, thoracic, neck and thoracic)

 Manchikanti 2003 [41]

+ neck and/or thoracic: 150/300 (50.0)

1 (neck and/or thoracic)

 Davies^e 1998 [31]

+ neck: 367/2007 (18.3) ♀ 218/367 (59.4) ♂ 149/367 (40.6)

+ shoulder-arm-hand: 331/2007 (16.5) ♀ 199/331 (60.1) ♂ 132/331 (39.9) + pelvic: 112/2007 (5.6) ♀ 71/112 (63.4) ♂ 41/112 (36.6) + buttock-leg-foot: 1006/2007 (50.1) ♀ 595/1006 (59.1) ♂ 411/1006 (40.9)

+ thorax: 203/2007 (10.1) ♀ 118/203 (58.1) ♂ 85/203 (41.9)

+ other body site(s): 1299/2007 (64.7) ♀ 779/1299 (60.0) ♂ 520/1299 (40.0)

6 (neck, shoulder/arm/hand, pelvis, buttock/leg/foot, thorax, other body site(s))