Skip to main content

Table 1 Definitions of the categories used to describe the identified course patterns

From: The Nordic back pain subpopulation program - individual patterns of low back pain established by means of text messaging: a longitudinal pilot study

Categories used to describe the early course

(weeks 1 - 4)

Definitions

Improved

≥ 2 days reduction in LBP-days/week when comparing week 4 to week 1

Unchanged

The same number of LBP-days +/- 1 day when comparing week 4 to week 1

Worsened

≥ 2 days more with LBP-days/week when comparing week 4 to week 1

Categories used to describe the late course

(weeks 5 - 18)

 

Mainly recovered

A maximum of one week with any LBP-days during the late course

Stays in the initial category

The number of LBP-days stays within the limits of the category that was assigned in the early course

Moves towards mainly improved

Moves from unchanged or worse in the early course to being improved (reporting ≥ 2 days reduction in LBP-days/week when compared to week 1), and has a maximum of one week outside that category

(The category does not apply to those who were improved in the early course)

Fluctuating

Fluctuates between improved, unchanged, or worse as compared to week one

Moves towards mainly worsened

Moves from improved or unchanged in the early course to being worse (reporting ≥ 2 days more with LBP-days/week than in week 1), and has a maximum of one week outside that category

(The category does not apply to those who were worsened in the early course)