Table 1 Characteristics of the baseline and outcome measures (total n = 395)

From: A diagnostic study in patients with sciatica establishing the importance of localization of worsening of pain during coughing, sneezing and straining to assess nerve root compression on MRI

Age in years 42.8 ± 10.0
Male sex 248 (63)
Duration of leg pain in weeks 7.0 ± 2.3
Score on the visual-analogue scale of pain in the lega 63.0 ± 22.1
Days between history taking and MRI 7.2 ± 9.0
Coughing, sneezing or straining: ‘no worsening of pain’ 115 (30)
Coughing, sneezing or straining: ‘worsening of back pain’ 72 (19)
Coughing, sneezing or straining: ‘worsening of leg pain’ 141 (36)
Coughing, sneezing or straining: ‘worsening of back and leg pain’ 60 (16)
Assessed as having nerve root compression on MRI 310 (80)
Assessed as having disc herniation on MRI 331 (85)
  1. Values are n (%) or mean ± SD
  2. MRI magnetic resonance imaging
  3. aThe intensity of pain was measured by a horizontal 100-mm visual analog scale, with 0 representing no pain and 100 the worst pain ever experienced
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