Table 3 Interventions undertaken or advice given by chiropractic respondents for the patient described in the vignette (%(n))

Treatment

n = 181

n = 176

n = 168

n = 163

n = 162

n = 159

 No intervention expectant observant

4.4 (8)

22.7 (40)

3.6 (6)

3.7 (6)

13.6 (22)

3.8 (6)

 Chiropractic adjustment (including SMT, Cox, Activator, Gonstead, Thomson drop)

92.8 (168)

59.1 (104)

91.1 (153)

92.6 (151)

72.8 (118)

89.9 (143)

 Exercise

30.4 (55)

34.7 (61)

25 (42)

49.1 (80)

54.3 (88)

31.4 (50)

 Education (back school)

26.5 (48)

26.7 (47)

29.2 (49)

36.2 (59)

40.1 (65)

28.9 (46)

 Massage

28.2 (51)

15.9 (28)

19.6 (33)

27.6 (45)

19.1 (31)

16.4 (26)

 Spinal traction (not flexion distraction)

6.1 (11)

10.8 (19)

16.7 (28)

6.7 (11)

5.6 (9)

16.4 (26)

 Psychosocial evaluation by chiropractor

11.6 (21)

16.5 (29)

4.2 (7)

19 (31)

17.9 (29)

3.1 (5)

 Non exercise modalities (eg. Heat, ice etc.)

53.6 (97)

15.3 (27)

41.1 (69)

30.1 (49)

17.3 (28)

29.9 (47)

 Electrotherapy (eg. TENS, interferential, etc.)

0.6 (1)

1.1 (2)

1.2 (2)

0.6 (1)

0.6 (1)

0 (0)

 Other treatment

18.3 (33)

22.2 (39)

19.0 (32)

16 (26)

14.2 (23)

14.5 (23)

How often do you treat the patient

n = 173

n = 116

n = 163

n = 151

n = 141

n = 152

 Once a week

17.3 (30)

66.4 (77)

7.4 (12)

43.7 (66)

64.5 (91)

19.1 (29)

 Twice a week

63.6 (110)

19 (22)

68.7 (112)

50.3 (76)

10.6 (15)

66.4 (101)

 Three times a week

8.1 (14)

0 (0)

14.1 (23)

2 (3)

0.7 1)

9.9 (15)

 Other

11 (19)

14.7 (17)

9.8(16)

4 (6)

24.1 (34)

4.6 (7)

 Re-evaluation after … treatments; mean(SD)

3.6 (2.0)

3.2 (2.5)

3.8 (2.3)

4.5 (2.0)

3.6 (2.5)

4.1 (2.4)

Advice on

Return to work

n = 179

n = 171

n = 167

n = 163

n = 162

n = 159

 Return to normal work

3.4 (6)

3.5 (6)

1.2 (2)

38.7 (63)

29.6 (48)

10.7 (17)

 Return to part time or light duties

38 (68)

49.1 (84)

23.4 (39)

51.5 (84)

54.9 (89)

54.7 (87)

 Be off work until pain has improved

52.5 (94)

38 (65)

61.7 (103)

8.6 (14)

13 (21)

28.3 (45)

 Be off work until pain has completely disappeared

4.5 (8)

5.8 (10)

8.4 (14)

1.2 (2)

2.5 (4)

4.4 (7)

 Be off work for a further …. Weeks

1.7 (3)

(mean 2.5 weeks, SD = 0.7)

3.5 (6)

(mean 2.4 weeks, SD = 0.8)

5.4 (9)

(mean 2.7 weeks, SD = 0.9)

0 (0)

0 (0)

1.9 (3)

(2.2 weeks, SD = 0.8)

Bedrest

n = 179

n = 171

n = 167

n = 163

n = 162

n = 159

 Avoid resting in bed entirely

6.7 (12)

9.9 (17)

5.4 (9)

33.1 (54)

29 (47)

10.7 (17)

 Avoid resting in bed as much as possible

40.2 (72)

39.8 (68)

29.9 (50)

39.3 (64)

40.7 (66)

36.5 (58)

 Rest in bed only when pain is severe

50.8 (91)

46.2 (79)

58.7 (98)

25.8 (42)

27.8 (45)

50.3 (80)

 Rest in bed until pain improves substantially

2.2 (4)

4.1 (7)

6 (10)

1.8 (3)

2.5 (4)

1.3 (2)

 Rest in bed until pain disappears

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

1.3 (2)

Stay active

n = 179

n = 171

n = 167

n = 163

n = 162

n = 159

 Perform usual activities

1.7 (3)

2.3 (4)

0.6 (1)

23.9 (39)

21 (34)

3.8 (6)

 Perform activities within the patient's tolerance

73.2 (131)

69 (118)

50.3 (84)

62.6 (102)

64.2 (104)

67.3 (107)

 Perform only pain free activities

24 (43)

25.1 (43)

43.1 (72)

12.9 (21)

14.8 (24)

23.9 (38)

 Limit all physical activities until pain disappears

1.1 (2)

3.5 (6)

6 (10)

0.6 (1)

0 (0)

5 (8)