Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria | Exclusion criteria |
|---|---|
• 12 to 18 years old | • Spinal manipulative therapy or exercise therapy in the previous month |
• Either: | |
 ◦ Sub-acute recurrent non-specific low back pain defined as current episode of 2 to 12 weeks duration AND an additional 2 week episode of back pain in the past year | • Ongoing treatment for low back pain by other health care providers |
• Other serious physical or mental health conditions (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, cancer) | |
OR | • Contraindications to study treatments including acute disc herniation, clinical |
 ◦ Chronic non-specific low back pain defined as a current episode ≥ 12 weeks duration | |
• instability of the lumbar spine, or inflammatory arthritides | |
• Low back pain intensity ≥ 3 on 0 to 10 numerical rating scale | • Benign joint hypermobility syndrome |
• Stable prescription medication plan (no changes to prescription medications that affect musculoskeletal pain in the previous month) |