Table 2 Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics (mean [SD] unless otherwise noted)
Parameter | Treatment group | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|  | SMT + HEP | SEP + HEP | HEP |
n | 81 | 80 | 80 |
Age | 72.5 (5.6) | 73.6 (5.3) | 74.7 (5.6) |
Female, n (%) | 46 (56.8) | 38 (47.5) | 40 (50.0) |
Race, n (%) | |||
 White | 78 (96.3) | 77 (96.3) | 77 (96.3) |
 Asian or Pacific Islander | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (1.3) |
 Black | 3 (3.7) | 2 (2.5) | 1 (1.3) |
 Other | 0 (0) | 1 (1.3) | 0 (0) |
 Not reported | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (1.3) |
Ethnicity, n (%) | |||
 Hispanic | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
Education | |||
 Less than high school | 3 (3.7) | 1 (1.3) | 4 (5.0) |
 High school degree | 26 (32.1) | 29 (36.3) | 21 (26.3) |
 Some college | 23 (28.4) | 26 (32.5) | 25 (31.3) |
 College degree | 17 (21.0) | 14 (17.5) | 12 (15.0) |
 Professional degree | 12 (14.8) | 10 (12.5) | 18 (22.5) |
Working, n (%) | 11 (13.6) | 18 (22.5) | 16 (20.0) |
BMI | 29.0 (6.4) | 28.3 (5.1) | 28.7 (4.3) |
Duration [years] | 13.7 (15.7) | 12.1 (15.1) | 12.9 (15.8) |
 -Median [25th to 75th percentiles] | 10.0 [1.6 to 20.0] | 5.0 [1.8 to 19.5] | 5.0 [2.5 to 20.0] |
Chronic (current episode ≥12 weeks), n (%) | 78 (96.3) | 77 (96.3) | 78 (97.5) |
Radiation to lower extremity, n (%) | 27 (33.3) | 32 (40.0) | 34 (42.5) |
Awake at night due to back pain, n (%) | 32 (39.5) | 21 (26.3) | 18 (22.8) |
Traumatic onset, n (%) | 27 (33.3) | 15 (18.8) | 15 (18.8) |
Prior treatment in past 3 months, n (%) | 24 (29.6) | 24 (30.0) | 20 (25.0) |
History of depression or anxiety, n (%) | 16 (19.8) | 12 (15.0) | 12 (15.0) |
Neck pain, n (%) | 58 (71.6) | 60 (75.0) | 58 (72.5) |
Tobacco use, n (%) | 3 (3.7) | 10 (12.5) | 4 (5.0) |
Low back pain severity [0–10] | 5.07 (1.60) | 5.31 (1.45) | 5.14 (1.43) |
Low back disability (Roland Morris) [0–100] | 45.5 (20.9) | 42.9 (17.9) | 45.3 (16.5) |
Medication use (0–4) | 1.63 (1.50) | 1.68 (1.47) | 2.09 (1.67) |
Expectation of improvement at the end of treatment (1–9) | 1.52 (0.50) | 1.64 (0.56) | 1.99 (0.72) |