Baseline characteristics of participants. Lower scores are better on Neck Pain and Disability Scale, Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire, pain affect, and rating of worst problem. Higher scores are better on anticipated improvement and SF-36 physical and mental component summaries.
| General Exercise, n = 37 | Specific Exercise, n = 37 | |
|---|---|---|
| Age, yrs* | 51.5 (13.6) | 51.1 (14.00) |
| Sex, n (%) | ||
| Male | 11 (30) | 17 (46) |
| Female | 26 (70) | 20 (54) |
| Employment status, n (%) | ||
| Working | 20 (54) | 24 (65) |
| Not working | 17 (46) | 13 (35) |
| Clinical center, n (%) | ||
| 1 | 13 (35) | 13 (35) |
| 2 | 3 (8) | 5 (14) |
| 3 | 6 (16) | 6 (16) |
| 4 | 15 (41) | 13 (35) |
| Duration of symptoms, mo**; median (IQR) | 24 (14, 60) | 30 (12, 72) |
| Physical therapists’ clinical diagnosis, n (%) | ||
| Spondylosis | 15 (41) | 8 (22) |
| Whiplash | 4 (11) | 5 (13) |
| Discogenic | 3 (8) | 4 (11) |
| Cervical dysfunction | 3 (8) | 2 (5) |
| Cervical headache | 2 (5) | 1 (3) |
| Other | 10 (27) | 17 (46) |
| Patient’s first episode of symptoms, n (%) | ||
| Yes | 9 (24) | 10 (27) |
| No | 28 (76) | 27 (73) |
| Chronic widespread pain†, n (%) | ||
| Yes | 14 (38) | 14 (38) |
| No | 23 (62) | 23 (62) |
| Previous physical therapy, n (%) | ||
| Yes | 20 (54) | 17 (46) |
| No | 17 (46) | 20 (54) |
| Neck Pain and Disability Scale* (0–100) | 50.14 (17.85) | 52.43 (18.58) |
| Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire* (0–100) | 40.02 (13.27) | 39.06 (13.27) |
| Pain affect* (0–10) | 5.32 (1.99) | 5.05 (2.46) |
| Rating of patient-identified worst problem* (0–10) | 5.95 (1.67) | 5.68 (2.58) |
| Anticipated improvement (0–5); median (IQR) | 4 (3, 4) | 4 (3, 4) |
| Taking pain medications; median (IQR), n (%) | ||
| Yes | 24 (65) | 21 (57) |
| No | 13 (35) | 16 (43) |
| SF-36 physical component summary*†† (0–100) | 30.45 (10.91) | 30.66 (11.69) |
| SF-36 mental component summary*†† (0–100) | 46.96 (11.09) | 49.08 (12.88) |
↵* Mean (standard deviation).
↵** Based on n = 34 for general treatment group, n = 34 for specific treatment group.
↵† Classified according to the American College of Rheumatology definition31.
↵†† Based on n = 36 for general treatment group, n = 36 for specific treatment group. IQR: interquartile range; SF-36: Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36.