Table 2 Shows the percentage of participants who responded “positively predictive” to the list of patient characteristics that may help predict instantaneous relief from NSLBP following SMT

1.

Duration of symptoms < 16 days

94

94

88

2.

Morning stiffness ⩽ 30 mins

94

69

–

3.

A history including a good response to previous spinal manipulation

94

100

100

4.

Good patient-practitioner relationship

94

94

100

5.

No symptoms distal to the knee

88

88

82

6.

Patient has an acute condition (<  14 days)

88

94

82

7.

Professional opinion of health status - excellent/ very good

88

94

94

8.

Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire work scale score less than 19 out of a high of 42 (low fear category)

81

81

88

9.

Professional opinion of health status – good

81

88

82

10

Patient has a comprehensive understanding of condition

81

75

82

11.

Hypomobility in the lumbar spine

75

69

–

12.

Pain improves with exercise, but not rest

75

88

88

13.

Patient has a sub-acute condition (15 days to 3 months)

75

56

–

14.

Age 31–49

75

63

–

15.

Decreased active range of motion

75

81

82

16.

Pain intermittently during the day

69

63

–

17.

Previous episode of non-specific LBP in patient history

69

38

–

18.

Decreased passive range of motion

69

75

82

19.

No symptoms in the lower extremities

69

81

94

20.

Pain severity rated ⩽ 5/10

69

69

–

21.

Experiences stiffness after rest (gel phenomenon)

63

44

–

22.

Pain associated with getting out of a chair

63

44

–

23.

Pain affecting activities of daily living

63

44

–

24.

Pain associated with bending forward a little

56

38

–

25.

Pain associated with arching backwards

56

69

26.

Age 10–30

56

44

–

27.

Recurrent attack of pain

50

38

–

28.

First episode of pain

50

25

–

29.

Pain associated with standing for a while

44

38

–

30.

Pain associated with lifting

44

13

–

31.

Pain associated with bending forward as far as they can

44

31

–

32.

Age 50+

44

19

–

33.

Pain on waking, duration ⩽ 30 mins

38

13

–

34.

At least one hip with > 35 degrees of internal rotation

31

13

–

35.

Pain on waking, duration > 30 mins

31

19

–

36.

Pain associated with repetitive bending

31

6

–

37.

Pain associated with running

31

19

–

38.

Patient BMI < 35

31

13

–

39.

Patient responds well to anti-inflammatory medicine

31

25

–

40.

Pain severity rated > 5/10

31

19

–

41.

Pain associated with doing or attempting to do a sit up

25

–

–

42.

Pain associated with driving long distances

25

–

–

43.

Female

25

–

–

44.

Male

25

–

–

45.

Pain present at all times

19

–

–

46.

Pain develops later in the day

19

–

–

47.

Pain associated with coughing or sneezing

19

–

–

48.

Morning stiffness > 30 mins

15

–

–

49.

Pain wakes the patient at night

13

–

–

50.

Patient has a chronic condition (>  3 months)

13

–

–

51.

Patient BMI ≥ 35

13

–

–

52.

Professional opinion of health status – fair/poor

7

–

–

53.

Patient experiencing depression

7

–

–

54.

Patient experiences anxiety

7

–

–

55.

Patient is stressed

7

–

–

56.

Pain onset related to a specific physical activity

n/a

56

–

57.

The production of a clicking sound (cavitation) at the moment of thrust

n/a

81

76

58.

Taking a comprehensive history

n/a

75

65

59.

Practitioner understanding of patient expectations and goals

n/a

88

94

60.

Close reproduction of symptoms on spinal springing and/ or end range loading

n/a

81

76

61.

Patient susceptible to placebo effect

n/a

88

88

62.

Patient has trust and confidence in the practitioner

n/a

81

100