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Table 3 Associations between leisure-time physical activity and improvement in neck/back pain intensity measured at follow-up

From: Vigorous regular leisure-time physical activity is associated with a clinically important improvement in back pain – a secondary analysis of randomized controlled trials

  

Crude

Adjusted

 

Casesa/all

Incidence of improvement (%)

RR

95% CI

RR

95% CI

Neck and/or back pain (n = 1 460)

3 monthsb

  Low/irregularc

153/308

50

1

 

1

 

  Moderated

375/736

51

1.03

0.86-1.25

1.07

0.88-1.30

  Vigorouse

149/261

57

1.15

0.91-1.44

1.19

0.94-1.51

6 monthsf

  Low/irregularc

155/304

51

1

 

1

 

  Moderated

364/728

50

0.99

0.82-1.19

1.01

0.84-1.23

  Vigorouse

147/260

57

1.11

0.88-1.39

1.23

0.88-1.43

12 monthsg

  Low/irregularc

136/287

47

1

 

1

 

  Moderated

336/700

48

1.01

0.83-1.24

1.07

0.87-1.31

  Vigorouse

152/253

60

1.27

1.01-1.60

1.35

1.06-1.73

Back pain and back/neck pain combined (n = 654)

3 monthsh

      

  Low/irregularc

61/123

50

1

 

1

 

  Moderated

166/317

52

1.07

0.80-1.44

1.02

0.76-1.38

  Vigorouse

86/139

62

1.26

0.90-1.75

1.19

0.84-1.68

6 monthsi

  Low/irregularc

64/122

52

1

 

1

 

  Moderated

168/312

54

1.03

0.77-1.37

0.98

0.73-1.31

  Vigorouse

85/135

63

1.20

0.87-1.66

1.12

0.80-1.57

12 monthsj

  Low/irregularc

47/177

27

1

 

1

 

  Moderated

159/301

53

1.32

0.95-1.82

1.33

0.96-1.86

  Vigorouse

91/132

69

1.72

1.21-2.44

1.83

1.26-2.66

Neck pain (n = 806)

3 monthsk

  Low/irregularc

91/183

50

1

 

1

 

  Moderated

209/419

50

1.01

0.91-1.14

1.11

0.86-1.44

  Vigorouse

62/120

52

1.02

0.91-1.14

1.12

0.80-1.58

6 monthsl

  Low/irregularc

90/180

50

1

 

1

 

  Moderated

196/416

47

0.95

0.74-1.22

1.04

0.80-1.34

  Vigorouse

62/124

50

0.99

0.72-1.37

1.08

0.77-1.52

12 monthsm

  Low/irregularc

89/168

53

1

 

1

 

  Moderated

177/399

44

0.84

0.65-1.09

0.93

0.72-1.22

  Vigorouse

61/120

51

0.95

0.69-1.32

1.06

0.75-1.49

  1. aMinimal clinically important improvement in pain intensity defined by improvement on Chronic Pain Questionnaire score by two points or more
  2. bAdjusted by age, level of education, pain duration, pain location and treatment arm
  3. cNo/irregular moderate or vigorous LPA, but any on low exertion level (e.g. calm walks and cycling)
  4. dRegular moderate LPA (corresponding to a level that makes it possible to have a conversation) up to three times/week or more, and/or once or twice/week on a vigorous level (high pulse, feeling strained and sweaty)
  5. eRegular vigorous LPA three times or more/week with or without LPA on low or moderate level
  6. fAdjusted by age, level of education, pain duration, mean disability at baseline, pain location and treatment arm
  7. gAdjusted by age, level of education, pain duration, mean disability at baseline, body mass index, pain location and treatment arm
  8. hAdjusted for age, pain duration and treatment arm
  9. iAdjusted for pain duration and treatment arm
  10. jAdjusted for age, pain duration and treatment arm
  11. kAdjusted for age, sex, education, daily smoking, body mass index, pain duration, previous episodes of pain, baseline pain intensity, baseline disability and treatment arm
  12. lAdjusted for age, sex, education, body mass index, pain duration, previous episodes of pain, baseline pain intensity, baseline disability and treatment arm
  13. mAdjusted for age, sex, education, body mass index, pain duration, previous episodes of pain, baseline pain intensity and treatment arm