Table 3.
Overall prescription rate
| Acute n = 500 | Subacute n = 118 | Chronic n = 28 | |
| Medication prescribed at first visit, no (%) | 459 (91.8) | 111 (94.1) | 22 (78.6) |
| NSAIDs | 287 (57.4) | 69 (58.5) | 13 (46.4) |
| Analgesics | 167 (33.4) | 39 (33.1) | 6 (21.4) |
| Muscle relaxants | 79 (15.8) | 15 (12.7) | 3 (10.7) |
| Corticoids | 18 (3.6) | 3 (2.5) | 0 (0.0) |
| Gastric protectors | 9 (1.8) | 4(3.4) | 1(3.6) |
| Tranquilizers | 23 (4.6) | 5 (4.2) | 2 (7.1) |
| Other medication | 23 (4.6) | 4 (3.4) | 1(3.6) |
| Procedures performed throughout the study, n (%) | |||
| SLR | 351 (70.2) | 74 (62.7) | 13 (46.4) |
| Plain radiographs | 193 (38.6) | 66 (55.9) | 18 (64.3) |
| CT or MRI scans | 75 (15.0) | 32 (27.1) | 14 (50.0) |
| Neurophysiologic tests | 12 (2.4) | 5 (4.2) | 4 (14.3) |
| Referral to rehabilitation or physical therapy | 83 (16.6) | 33 (28.0) | 7 (25.0) |
| Referral to orthopaedic surgery or neurosurgery | 31 (6.2) | 19 (16.1) | 11 (39.3) |
| Sick leave | 136 (50.6)* | 25 (33.8)* | 13 (59.1)* |
*Percentages refer to the 367 patients in a potentially active work situation, in which sick leave was possible.