The Nordic back pain subpopulation program: Can low back pain patterns be predicted from the first consultation with a chiropractor?

It is widely believed that non–specific low back pain (LBP) consists of a number of subgroups which should be identified in order to improve treatment effects...The diagnostic classes were associated with the pain course patterns and number of LBP days. Patients with disc pain had the highest number of LBP days and patients with muscular pain reported the fewest. Men had better outcome than women and patients without leg pain tended to have fewer LBP days than those with leg pain. Duration of LBP at the first visit was not associated with outcome. The study indicated that there is a clinically meaningful relationship between diagnostic classes and the course of LBP. This should be evaluated in more depth.