Table 4

Characteristics of patients (n = 1,733)



%
(No)
Mean
(SD)

Demographic




Age in years


48.7
(16.3)
Male
45.2
(783)


Education
Low
30.8
(534)



Middle
26.3
(456)



High
13.5
(234)



Unknown
29.4
(509)


Health insurance
Public
56.7
(983)



Private
24.2
(420)



Unknown
19.0
(330)


High urbanization rate (> 1,000 addresses per km2)1
58.9
(1,021)








Complaints




Duration complaint
< 1 month (acute)
48.2
(835)



> 1 month (chronic)
51.8
(898)


Recurrent complaint2
47.0
(815)


Previous physical therapy3
47.1
(817)


Referred by general practitioner
95.2
(1,650)








Treatment





Treatment goal
Maintaining body position (yes)
18.1
(313)



Changing body position (yes)
19.0
(329)



Functions of mobility (yes)
39.6
(687)



Functions of muscles (yes)
14.3
(247)



Pain (yes)
11.4
(197)


Interventions
Massage (yes)
34.4
(596)



Manual manipulation (yes)
37.9
(657)



Physical modalities (yes)
12.0
(208)



Exercise therapy (yes)
65.8
(1,141)



Information/advice (yes)
27.1
(469)


Number of treatment sessions


9.9
(6.6)

1 [27]

2 recurrent complaint is defined as a complaint appearing after a complaint-free episode lasting at least four weeks and at most two years

3 for the same or other complaint

Swinkels et al. BMC Health Services Research 2005 5:74   doi:10.1186/1472-6963-5-74