Table 3.
Comparison of treatment frequency/duration and other clinical patterns.
| Clinical Variable | Mechanical manip n=53 |
Manual manip n=39 | p-value (Chi-square) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study terminated at: | <.001 | |||
| 8 visits | 70% | 15% | ||
| 4 weeks | 17% | 23% | ||
| < 4 weeks | 13% | 62% | ||
|
Continued with care after study? (yes) |
78% | 18% | <.001 | |
|
Diagnostic studies ordered during study |
<.001 | |||
| None | 41% | 100% | ||
| Lumbar radiographs | 54% | 0% | ||
| Lumbar MRI | 5% | 0% | ||
| Number of visits at 4 weeks | ||||
| (Mean / standard deviation) | 9.2 (2.7) | 4.5 (2.3) | <.001 (t-test) | |
| Location of Symptoms | .07 | |||
| LBP only | 50% | 74% | ||
| LBP and buttock | 28% | 16% | ||
| LBP, buttock, and thigh | 22% | 10% | ||
| Onset of LBP | .016 | |||
| ≤ 14 days | 52% | 81% | ||
| 15 days to 12 weeks | 48% | 19% | ||
| Antalgic Lean Present? | .01 | |||
| None | 94% | 74% | ||
| Flexion | 0% | 18% | ||
| Lateral list | 6% | 8% | ||
| Limitation of Lumbar Flexion | <.001 | |||
| None | 2% | 31% | ||
| Mild (> 41º) | 48% | 45% | ||
| Moderate (20º – 40º) | 41% | 21% | ||
| Severe (< 20º) | 9% | 3% | ||