Spinal Manipulation and Patient Self-Management for Preventing Acute to Chronic Back Pain

Measured using the 0-10 numerical rating scale (0=no LBP, 10=the worst LBP possible). Missing weekly outcomes were multiply imputed. Means were estimated using marginal standardization with adjustment for site, time period, risk of chronicity, and baseline pain intensity.

Measured using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), a 24-item questionnaire that measures the degree to which a low back problem restricts daily activities. Score ranges from 0 to 24 with higher values indicating more disability. Missing monthly outcomes were multiply imputed. Means were estimated using marginal standardization with adjustment for site, time period, risk of chronicity, and baseline RMDQ.

Measured by the LBP impact scale, which includes measures of pain intensity, pain interference, and physical function from the PROMIS-29 Profile v2.0. The scale ranges from 8 (least impact) to 50 (greatest impact). Missing monthly outcomes were multiply imputed. Means were estimated using marginal standardization with adjustment for site, time period, risk of chronicity, and baseline LBP impact score.

Measured by the proportion of patients with scores of 0 on the 0-10 pain numeric rating scale (NRS) and a score of less than or equal to 2 on the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), a 24-item questionnaire that measures the degree to which a low back problem restricts daily activities.

Participants report the number of days that low back pain has been a problem in the past 7 days for 52 weeks. This measure is the percent of days that low back pain has been a problem. Mean and confidence intervals are estimated using marginal standardization and bootstrapping. Adjustment for site, time period, and risk for chronicity.

Includes provider visits, emergency department visits, diagnostic imaging scans, hospitalizations, injections and surgical procedures. This is a binary indicator of any care from providers outside the study for low back pain.

Over the counter and prescription medication use for low back pain. Since the MC arm intervention includes medications, only months 4-12 (i.e. after the intervention) are considered for this outcome. The measure is the percent of months 4-12 in which medication was used for low back pain. Mean and confidence intervals are estimated using marginal standardization and bootstrapping. Adjustment for site, time period, and risk for chronicity.

Participants indicated in monthly follow-ups if they were bothered by low back pain over the last month. This measure is the percent of months that participants were bothered by low back pain at work. Mean and confidence intervals are estimated using marginal standardization and bootstrapping. Adjustment for site, time period, and risk for chronicity.

Measured using a 9-point scale: 0 (vastly worse) to 8 (completely recovered )

Measured using a 9-point scale: 0 (vastly worse) to 8 (completely recovered )

Measured using a 9-point scale: 0 (vastly worse) to 8 (completely recovered )

Measured using a 7-point Likert scale: 0 (completely dissatisfied) to 6 (completely satisfied)

Measured using a 7-point Likert scale: 0 (completely dissatisfied) to 6 (completely satisfied)

Measured using a 7-point Likert scale: 0 (completely dissatisfied) to 6 (completely satisfied)

Measured by the proportion of patients in each group meeting the definition by the NIH Task Force on Research Standards for Chronic LBP (i.e., ongoing LBP on ≥50% of days over past 6 months).

Measured by the proportion of patients in each group meeting the definition by the NIH Task Force on Research Standards for Chronic LBP (i.e., ongoing LBP on ≥50% of days over past 6 months).

Assessed using "how often has low back pain interfered with your ability to do regular activities over the past 6 months?" on a 3-item scale (less than half the days in the past 6 months, at least half the days in the past 6 months, every day or nearly every day in the past 6 months). Here we dichotomize to "at least half the days in the past 6 months" or more.

Assessed using "how often has low back pain interfered with your ability to do regular activities over the past 6 months?" on a 3-item scale (less than half the days in the past 6 months, at least half the days in the past 6 months, every day or nearly every day in the past 6 months). Here we dichotomize to "at least half the days in the past 6 months" or more.

Measured by a blinded examiner, in seconds, the time taken by a person to stand up, walk a distance of 10 feet, turn, walk back to the chair and sit down again.

Measured by a blinded examiner, in seconds, the amount of time a person requires to stand up and sit down from a chair 5 times without using their arms

Measured by a blinded examiner on a scale from 0-3, with 0 being can easily grab the toes with the fingertips of both hands and 3 being can hardly, if at all, reach as far as to the malleoli. Each leg is scored separately with the greater leg score serving as the overall score.

Assessed using 8 different diagrams describing back pain change over the last 12 months

Measured by a blinded examiner who will classify the participant's spinal disorder as 0) no pain; 1) pain without radiation; 2) pain with radiation to the proximal extremity; 3) pain with radiation to the distal extremity; 4) pain with radiation to the extremity and neurologic signs.

The PROMIS depression scale consists of 4 questions related to depression over the past 7 days. The raw score is converted to the T-Score that is reported here. The range of possible scores is 41.0 - 79.3. Higher scores indicate greater depression. A score of 50 represents the average score in a general US reference population and 10 is the standard deviation.

The PROMIS physical function scale consists of 4 questions about ability to perform tasks of daily living. The raw score is converted to the T-Score that is reported here. The range of possible scores is 22.6 - 57.0. Higher scores indicate greater physical function. A score of 50 represents the average score in a general US reference population and 10 is the standard deviation.

The PROMIS anxiety scale consists of 4 questions related to anxiety over the past 7 days. The raw score is converted to the T-Score that is reported here. The range of possible scores is 40.3 - 81.4. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety. A score of 50 represents the average score in a general US reference population and 10 is the standard deviation.

The PROMIS fatigue scale consists of 4 questions related to fatigue over the past 7 days. The raw score is converted to the T-Score that is reported here. The range of possible scores is 33.7 - 75.8. Higher scores indicate greater fatigue. A score of 50 represents the average score in a general US reference population and 10 is the standard deviation.

The PROMIS sleep disturbance scale consists of 4 questions related to sleep disturbance over the past 7 days. The raw score is converted to the T-Score that is reported here. The range of possible scores is 32.0 - 73.3. Higher scores indicate greater sleep disturbance. A score of 50 represents the average score in a general US reference population and 10 is the standard deviation.

The PROMIS participation scale consists of 4 questions related to participation in social activities. The raw score is converted to the T-Score that is reported here. The range of possible scores is 27.5 - 64.2. Higher scores indicate greater ability to participate in social activities. A score of 50 represents the average score in a general US reference population and 10 is the standard deviation.

The PROMIS participation scale consists of 4 questions related to pain interference in the last 7 days. The raw score is converted to the T-Score that is reported here. The range of possible scores is 41.6 - 75.6. Higher scores indicate greater pain interference. A score of 50 represents the average score in a general US reference population and 10 is the standard deviation.

The STarT Back Screening Tool is a 9-item questionnaire used to identify prognostic risk factors in patients with low back pain. It assesses physical and psychosocial factors, including referred pain, disability, fear-avoidance, anxiety, and depression. Scores are totaled (0-9) and a psychosocial subscale score (items 5-9, range 0-5) is calculated. Patients are classified as: low risk (total ≤3), medium risk (total ≥4 and psychosocial subscale ≤3), or high risk (total ≥4 and psychosocial subscale ≥4).

The STarT Back Screening Tool is a 9-item questionnaire used to identify prognostic risk factors in patients with low back pain. It assesses physical and psychosocial factors, including referred pain, disability, fear-avoidance, anxiety, and depression. Scores are totaled (0-9) and a psychosocial subscale score (items 5-9, range 0-5) is calculated. Patients are classified as: low risk (total ≤3), medium risk (total ≥4 and psychosocial subscale ≤3), or high risk (total ≥4 and psychosocial subscale ≥4).

The STarT Back Screening Tool is a 9-item questionnaire used to identify prognostic risk factors in patients with low back pain. It assesses physical and psychosocial factors, including referred pain, disability, fear-avoidance, anxiety, and depression. Scores are totaled (0-9) and a psychosocial subscale score (items 5-9, range 0-5) is calculated. Patients are classified as: low risk (total ≤3), medium risk (total ≥4 and psychosocial subscale ≤3), or high risk (total ≥4 and psychosocial subscale ≥4).

Using a 10-100 numerical rating scale (10=very uncertain, 100 = very certain), self-efficacy is measured with the 22-item Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale adapted for acute/sub-acute pain. This is a psychosocial mediating measure.

Measured using the 13-item Pain Catastrophizing Scale; it uses a 5-item point scale (0=not at all, 4 all the time). This is a psychosocial mediating measure.

Measured using the 11-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia demonstrated to have internal consistency, responsiveness and validity similar to the original 17-item instrument. A four-item scale is used (strongly disagree to strongly agree). This is a psychosocial mediating measure.

Measured using an adapted version of the 28-item Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) instrument on a 4 point scale (I haven't been doing this at all to I've been doing this a lot). This is a psychosocial mediating measure.