Table 4 Demographic description of the trajectories at baseline (n:127)
|  | Trajectory 1 (n = 29; 15 stretch, 14 stretch + SMT) | Trajectory 2 (n = 46; 26 stretch, 20 stretch + SMT) | Trajectory 3 (n = 40; 14 stretch, 26 stretch + SMT) | Trajectory 4 (n = 12; 6 stretch, 6 stretch + SMT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age, mean (sd) | 54 (13.5) | 60 (14.7) | 58 (12.4) | 54 (14.4) |
Female, n (%) | 13 (45) | 25 (54) | 24 (60) | 9 (75) |
Baseline pain intensity (NRS-11), mean (sd) | 2.6 (1.3) | 4.4 (1.9) | 5.0 (1.8) | 7.3 (1.0) |
Pain duration | ||||
 Less than 6 months, n (%) | 0 (0) | 1 (2) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
 More than 6 months, n (%) | 7 (24) | 5 (11) | 6 (15) | 0 (0) |
 Several years, n (%) | 22 (76) | 37 (80) | 34 (85) | 12 (100) |
Pain intensity (NRS-11) change score, mean (sd) | -1.46 (1.5) n = 28 | -1.67 (2.2) n = 43 | -0.39 (2.2) n = 36 | 0.08 (1.8) n = 12 |
Neck disability change score, mean (sd) | -3.9 (3.6) n = 22 | -2.4 (4.7) n = 37 | -1.7 (4.2) n = 36 | -1.7 (5.0) n = 10 |
STarT Back categories (Low risk: 0–3. Medium risk: Min. 4 points, max. 3 items from the psychosocial subscale. High risk: 4–5 on the psychosocial subscale.) | ||||
 Low risk, n (%) | 26 (90) | 39 (91) | 25 (63) | 3 (25) |
 Medium risk, n (%) | 1 (4) | 2 (4) | 9 (23) | 6 (50) |
 High risk, n (%) | 0 (0) | 2 (4) | 2 (5) | 2 (17) |
Qualitative characteristics of pain (McGill questionnaire) change score, mean (sd) | -2.3 (4.5) n = 26 | -2.1 (5.9) n = 45 | -0.9 (7.8) n = 39 | 3.3 (11.1) n = 12 |
Type of occupation | ||||
 Unemployed, n (%) | 6 (21) | 17 (37) | 9 (23) | 7 (58) |
 Mostly hard labour, n (%) | 0 (0) | 1 (2) | 2 (5) | 0 (0) |
 Mostly a variation between hard and easy labour, n (%) | 1 (3) | 4 (9) | 4 (10) | 0 (0) |
4. Mostly standing and walking, n (%) | 3 (10) | 8 (17) | 9 (23) | 0 (0) |
5. Mostly sitting, n (%) | 19 (66) | 17 (36) | 15 (39) | 5 (42) |
EQ-5D change score, mean (sd) | -0.003 (0.072) n = 27 | -0.005 (0.038) n = 43 | 0.007 (0.05) n = 36 | -0.013 (0.11) n = 12 |
Arm pain, n (%) | 10 (35) | 27 (59) | 28 (70) | 10 (83) |
Pain in the mid-back, n (%) | 11 (40) | 27 (59) | 27 (68) | 8 (67) |
Pain in the lower back, n (%) | 9 (31) | 28 (61) | 27 (68) | 10 (83) |
Sick leave the previous year | ||||
Do not work, n (%) | 3 (10) | 17 (37) | 7 (18) | 4 (33) |
No, n (%) | 24 (83) | 27 (59) | 29 (73) | 4 (33) |
Yes, between 1–7 days, n (%) | 1 (3) | 1 (2) | 2 (5) | 1 (8) |
Yes, between 8–14 days, n (%) | 1 (3) | 0 (0) | 1 (3) | 1 (8) |
Yes, more than 15Â days, n (%) | 0 (0) | 1 (2) | 1 (3) | 2 (17) |