title: Exploratory Analysis of Clinical Predictors of Outcomes of Nonsurgical Treatment in Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to explore potential baseline physical examination and demographic predictors of clinical outcomes in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a secondary analysis of data obtained from a pilot randomized controlled trial. Primary and secondary outcome measures were the Swiss Spinal Stenosis (SSS) Questionnaire and visual analog scale (VAS) for leg pain. Multiple regression models were used to assess 2 different outcomes: SSS at completion of care and VAS at completion of care. Separate regression models were built for each of the 2 outcomes to identify the best subset of variables that predicted improvement. Predictors with a significant contribution were retained in a final "best" model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three variables were identified as having an association with SSS score at completion of care: baseline SSS score, qualitative description of leg pain, and age (adjusted R(2) = 33.2). Four variables were identified as having an association with VAS score at completion of care: baseline VAS score, qualitative description of leg pain, body mass index, and age (adjusted R(2) = 38.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides preliminary evidence supporting an association between certain baseline characteristics and nonsurgical clinical outcomes in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy and Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Electronic address: mjs5@pitt.edu.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy and Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terhorst
authors.affiliation: Clinical Director, Rhode Island Spine Center, Pawtucket, RI; Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Joel M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stevans
authors.affiliation: Private Practice of Physical Therapy, Select Physical Therapy, Staunton, VA.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Research, National University of Health Sciences, Lombard, IL.
authors.forename: Jerrilyn A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cambron
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Chiropractic; Complementary Therapies; Low Back Pain; Lumbar Vertebrae; Manipulation; Radiculopathy; Spinal Stenosis