Table 3

Mean improvements in pain and functional status: baseline, 6 and 12 months

Mean (SD) improvement

Intervention

Control

Between-group difference † (95% CI)

p-value

6 months

PT (n = 62)

Pain

2.0 (1.8)

0.7 (1.6)

1.4 (0.4 – 2.5) ‡

0.01

Functional status NPDI

14 (21)

8 (18)

4.8 (-5.2 – 14.9)

0.34

Functional status QBPDS

13 (24)

10 (21)

2.4 (-9.9 – 14.8)

0.70

PTCBWE (n = 102)

Pain

1.5 (2.0)

0.8 (2.0)

0.7 (-0.1 – 1.5)

0.09

Functional status NPDI

15 (16)

9 (15)

5.3 (-0.8 – 11.5)

0.09

Functional status QBPDS

13 (20)

10 (14)

2.7 (-4.0 – 9.5)

0.43

12 months

PT (n = 67)

Pain

2.3 (2.1)

1.6 (2.8)

0.9 (-1.2 – 1.4)

0.90

Functional status NPDI

17 (18)

13 (24)

-1.2 (-11.9 – 9.4)

0.82

Functional status QBPDS

15 (20)

16 (26)

-5.8 (-17.7 – 6.2)

0.34

PTCBWE (n = 96)

Pain

2.1 (2.1)

2.0 (2.4)

0.03 (-0.9 – 1.0)

0.95

Functional status NPDI

16 (18)

15 (18)

0.8 (-6.3 – 7.9)

0.83

Functional status QBPDS

14 (20)

14 (18)

-0.3 (-7.9 – 7.3)

0.94

PT indicates physical training without a cognitive behavioral component and workplace specific exercises. PTCBWE indicates physical training with a cognitive behavioral component and workplace specific exercises.

† Adjusted for history of complaints and partial or full work disability at baseline.

‡ The mean decrease in pain is 1.4 points higher in the physical training group than in the usual care group. Pain severity and functional status (secondary outcome measures) were analyzed by means of linear regression analyses. Randomization result was the independent variable in the analyses, and history of complaints and partial or full work disability at baseline were included as potential confounders.

Heinrich et al. BMC Public Health 2009 9:200   doi:10.1186/1471-2458-9-200