Table 3.
The usefulness of each patient characteristic in predicting whether a clinical scenario containing that characteristic was rated inappropriate or appropriate for each therapy (i.e., the percent of scenarios each characteristic helps classify)
Patient characteristics* Predicting a rating of
inappropriate**Predicting a rating of
appropriate**Mobilization Manipulation Mobilization Manipulation Presence of red flags 100.0% ↑ 100.0% ↑ 65.3% ↓ 35.0% ↓ Prior unfavorable experience with spinal manual therapy 86.3% ↑ 86.3% ↑ 51.6% ↓ 61.0% ↓ Major neurologic findings 18.7% ↑ 86.3% ↑ 41.5% ↓ 27.1% ↓ Previous non-manual conservative care failed 13.0% ↓ 24.5% ↓ --- --- Additional (e.g., advanced imaging) testing show cervical disc herniation, stenosis, or foraminal osteophytosis 6.5% ↑ 2.9%*** ↓ 100.0% ↓ 100.0% ↓ Clinically substantial traumatic etiology --- 21.9% ↑ 30.7% ↓ 23.5% ↓ No signs of painful/limited active range of motion --- 4.7% ↑ --- --- Radiographs showing advanced spinal degeneration --- --- 26.0% ↓ 65.3% ↓ No cervical nerve root radiculopathy --- --- 7.6% ↓ --- Joint dysfunction in upper cervical spine --- --- --- 14.8% ↓ No local pathology --- --- --- 11.9% ↑ Continued psychosocial stress --- --- --- --- *The patient characteristics are all fully defined in the Appendix.
**Predictions of a rating of inappropriate were versus ratings of equivocal or appropriate. Predictions of appropriate were versus ratings of equivocal or inappropriate.
***Tests negative for serious pathology included here with other test results.
↑= This patient characteristic predicts this rating.
↓= This patient characteristic predicts against this rating.