Table 1 Baseline characteristics

Gender (male)

674 (50.5)

0

498 (47.0)

0

0.092

Age (years)

40.2 (± 13.09)

0

41.4 (± 15.43)

0

0.032

Pain diagram

Shaded area (mm):

7.0 (± 5.51)

0

8.3 (± 7.30)

0

<0.001

Posterior

1.5 (± 3.58)

0

2.6 (± 4.79)

0

<0.001

Anterior

Pain diagram:

≥8 mm

484 (36.3)

0

486 (45.9)

0

<0.001

Pain diagram:

Inappropriate marking

145 (10.9)

2 (0.15)

193 (18.2)

2 (0.19)

<0.001

Back pain

984 (73.8)

1 (0.08)

685 (64.9)

4 (0.38)

<0.001

Leg pain

228 (17.2)

6 (0.45)

242 (23.0)

5 (0.47)

<0.001

Neck pain

465 (34.9)

2 (0.15)

501 (47.4)

3 (0.28)

<0.001

Headache

71 (5.3)

2 (0.15)

137 (13.0)

3 (0.28)

<0.001

Shoulder/arm pain

318 (23.9)

3 (0.22)

362 (34.2)

1 (0.09)

<0.001

Widespread pain

23 (1.7)

19 (1.4)

89 (8.6)

28 (2.6)

<0.001

Caused by injury/trauma

354 (26.7)

10 (0.75)

250 (23.9)

11 (1.0)

0.112

Past similar complaint

891 (67.4)

13 (0.97)

640 (62.4)

34 (3.2)

0.012

Taking medication

299 (22.7)

17 (1.3)

279 (26.6)

10 (0.94)

0.028

Expectation of recovery

1,048 (79.1)

10 (0.75)

505 (48.1)

10 (0.94)

<0.001

Paid employment

1,108 (83.8)

13 (0.97)

773 (74.2)

17 (1.6)

<0.001

Satisfied with work

1,191 (93.4)

60 (4.5)

846 (86.6)

82 (7.7)

<0.001

Smoker (ever)

700 (52.5)

2 (0.15)

550 (52.0)

2 (0.19)

0.816

Alcohol (regularly)

1,032 (77.5)

3 (0.22)

718 (68.2)

6 (0.57)

<0.001

Physically active

1,136 (85.3)

4 (0.30)

794 (75.4)

6 (0.57)

<0.001

In good general health

1,204 (90.4)

3 (0.22)

866 (81.8)

7 (0.66)

<0.001