Table 2. Baseline Demographic Characteristics for Included Patients Based on Physical Therapy Use.
(Other comorbidities include: stroke, cancer, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol/drug dependency, lung, liver, kidney, blood vessel, nervous system, migraine, anxiety)
| Had Physical Therapy During the First 6 Weeks (n=90) | No Physical Therapy During the First 6 Weeks (n=154) | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 66.9 (11.8) | 66.3 (9.5) | 0.67 |
| Sex (female) | 36 (40%) | 61 (40%) | 0.94 |
| Body Mass Index | 29.1 (6.3) | 29.4 (5.6) | 0.66 |
| Race (white) | 80 (89%) | 134 (87%) | 0.82 |
| Education (at least some college) | 61 (68%) | 94 (61%) | 0.36 |
| Marital Status (married) | 56 (62%) | 113 (73%) | 0.093 |
| Work Status | |||
| Full or part-time | 25 (28%) | 54 (35%) | 0.24 |
| Retired | 50 (56%) | 73 (47%) | 0.22 |
| Other | 15 (16%) | 27 (18%) | 0.86 |
| Compensation (receiving any) | 3 (3%) | 15 (10%) | 0.15 |
| Current Smoker (yes) | 8 (9%) | 15 (10%) | 0.99 |
| Co-Morbidities | |||
| Hypertension | 39 (43%) | 70 (45%) | 0.85 |
| Diabetes | 17 (19%) | 22 (14%) | 0.44 |
| Osteoporosis | 13 (14%) | 17 (11%) | 0.56 |
| Heart Problem | 21 (23%) | 48 (31%) | 0.24 |
| Stomach Problem | 17 (19%) | 37 (24%) | 0.44 |
| Depression | 6 (7%) | 19 (12%) | 0.23 |
| Other‡ | 29 (32%) | 56 (36%) | 0.61 |
| Treatment Prior to Enrollment | |||
| Physical Therapy (yes) | 64 (71%) | 110 (71%) | 0.93 |
| Injection (yes) | 41 (46%) | 89 (58%) | 0.086 |
| Symptom Duration (> 6 months) | 42 (47%) | 85 (55%) | 0.25 |
| SF-36 – Bodily Pain | 37.6 (18.2) | 39.8 (22.1) | 0.42 |
| SF-36 – Physical Functioning | 39.5 (24.7) | 40.1 (25.6) | 0.87 |
| Oswestry Disability Index | 38.7 (18.1) | 37.3 (18.9) | 0.58 |
| Stenosis Bothersomeness Index | 12.9 (5.6) | 13.4 (5.6) | 0.45 |
| Back Pain Bothersomeness | 4.0 (1.7) | 3.8 (1.8) | 0.58 |
| Leg Pain Bothersomeness | 3.9 (1.8) | 4.2 (1.7) | 0.27 |
| Treatment Preference | |||
| Non-Surgical | 62 (69%) | 89 (58%) | 0.085 |
| Surgical | 8 (9%) | 30 (19%) | 0.028 |
| Not Sure | 20 (22%) | 35 (23%) | 0.93 |
| Radiating Symptoms Present | 62 (69%) | 131 (85%) | 0.005 |
| Pseudoclaudication Present | 69 (77%) | 128 (83%) | 0.29 |
| Any Neurological Deficit (reflex, sensory or motor) | 53 (59%) | 97 (63%) | 0.62 |
| Stenosis Levels | |||
| L2 – L3 | 26 (29%) | 40 (26%) | 0.73 |
| L3 – L4 | 62 (69%) | 102 (66%) | 0.78 |
| L4 – L5 | 80 (89%) | 146 (95%) | 0.15 |
| L5 – S1 | 26 (29%) | 46 (30%) | 0.99 |
| Stenosis Levels (mod/severe) | |||
| None | 3 (3%) | 5 (3%) | 0.97 |
| One | 32 (36%) | 53 (34%) | 0.86 |
| Two | 37 (41%) | 68 (44%) | 0.64 |
| Three or more | 18 (20%) | 28 (18%) | 0.73 |
| Stenosis Locations | |||
| Central | 77 (86%) | 133 (86%) | 0.99 |
| Lateral Recess | 63 (70%) | 124 (81%) | 0.086 |
| Neuroforamen | 32 (36%) | 56 (36%) | 0.99 |
| Stenosis Severity | |||
| Mild | 3 (3%) | 5 (3%) | 0.97 |
| Moderate | 46 (51%) | 66 (43%) | 0.21 |
| Severe | 41 (46%) | 83 (54%) | 0.21 |