Table 3 Frequency of reported answers to the question on coughing, sneezing and straining for subgroups of patients (based on MRI findings)

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

  Patients without both nerve root compression and disc herniation on MRI (n = 56) (%) Patients with both nerve root compression and disc herniation on MRI (n = 304) (%) Patients with a herniated disc on MRI (n = 327)a (%)
No worsening of pain 17 (30.4) 87 (28.6) 95 (29.1)
Worsening of leg pain 11 (19.6) 122 (40.1) 129 (39.4)
Worsening of back pain 16 (28.6) 48 (15.8) 55 (16.8)
Worsening of leg and back pain 12 (21.4) 47 (15.5) 48 (14.7)
  1. aWith or without having nerve root compression on MRI
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