Prognostic factors associated with improvement in patients with an episode of non-specific low back pain without radicular syndrome: A prospective observational exploratory study

Barbier, G., Descarreaux, M., Cottin, F. et Lardon, A. (2025). Prognostic factors associated with improvement in patients with an episode of non-specific low back pain without radicular syndrome: A prospective observational exploratory study. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, 33 (1). p. 21. ISSN 2045-709X DOI 10.1186/s12998-025-00580-5

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Résumé

Abstract

Background
Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with most cases classified as non-specific(NSLBP). While manual therapy appears effective for treating NSLBP, further research is needed to identify candidate baseline factors associated with improvement to help tailor personalized treatment strategies. This prospective observational exploratory study, therefore, aims to identify candidate prognostic factors collected at baseline that are associated with short-term improvement in people with NSLBP.

Methods
This study was conducted in chiropractic clinics across France between March 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. Adults with a new episode of NSLBP were included. Baseline data, including individual, clinical, and therapist-related candidate factors, were collected before and during the initial consultation. Participants were considered improved if they: (i) reported “all better” or “better” on perceived global change, (ii) achieved a 20-point improvement on both Visual Analog Scales (VAS for intensity and unpleasantness) or scored 0 on reassessment, and (iii) showed a 30% improvement on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at 7 days and 4 weeks post-consultation. Missing data were handled using multiple imputation with chained equations (MICE). Logistic regression analyses (univariate and multivariable with spline terms when superior fit was demonstrated) identified candidate prognostic factors associated with clinical improvement.

Results
Out of 1,394 patients contacted, 241 met the inclusion criteria, and 207 completed at least one follow-up assessment. After imputation and multivariable analysis, duration of episode (spline 1: 0.94[0.89-1.00]), Number of painful sites (0.75[0.62–0.92]), negative treatment expectations (0.48 [0.25–0.94]), disability score (spline 1: 0.94[0.89-1.00], spline 2: 0.77[0.62–0.96]), and pain intensity (1.05 [1.02–1.07]) were associated with improvement at 7 days. At 4 weeks, disability score (spline 1: 1.24[1.07–1.45], spline 2: 0.77[0.63–0.95]), pain intensity (1.02 [1.00–1.04]), episode duration (spline 1: 0.95[0.91-1.00]), new patient (0.50 [0.28–0.91]), and clinican’s prognosis (3.89 [1.49–10.10]) were associated with improvement.

Conclusion
Less-studied factors, such as negative treatment expectations, clinician’s prognosis, number of therapists, and perceived stiffness, highlighted significant associations with improvement in this exploratory phase. These findings suggest that incorporating these factors may be used when updating existing models.

Type de document:	Article
Mots-clés libres:	Manual therapy Chiropractic Low back pain Prognostic factors
Date de dépôt:	23 oct. 2025 14:52
Dernière modification:	23 oct. 2025 14:52
Version du document déposé:	Version officielle de l'éditeur
URI:	https://depot-e.uqtr.ca/id/eprint/12273

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