Table 3.

Results of Individual Studies That Were Not Pooled, With Outcomes Presented as Mean Difference and 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) Comparing Physical Therapy Treatment With Surgery^a

^aFor all comparisons, effect estimates represent the group receiving the first therapy listed minus the group receiving the second therapy listed. Therefore, positive effect estimates indicate a lower mean score for the first therapy listed while negative values indicate a lower score for the second therapy listed. Weinstein and colleagues' results are adjusted for age, sex, baseline scores, income, treatment preference, duration of symptoms, compensation, smoking status, body mass index, baseline sciatica bothersomeness, and joint, stomach, and bowel problems and are presented as mean difference from the change from baseline. NSAIDs=nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, SF-36=36-Item Short-Form Survey, RCT=randomized controlled trial, ODI=Oswestry Disability Index. *P<.05.