Neck pain patterns and subgrouping based on weekly SMS-derived trajectories

doi:10.1186/s12891-020-03660-0

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BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2020; 21: 678.

Published online 2020 Oct 14. doi: 10.1186/s12891-020-03660-0

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Table 1

Definitions of 4 the main patterns and 16 predefined trajectory subgroups used for analysis as presented in Kongsted et al. [9]

Pattern	Subgroup label	Variation Days	Variation Intensity	Intensity level
ONGOING	1. Severe	> 4 days with NP each week	Intensity stays within +/− 1 of mean value	Mean intensity ≥6
	2. Moderate	> 4 days with NP each week	Intensity stays within +/− 1 of mean value	Mean intensity ≥4 and < 6
	3. Mild	> 4 days with NP each week	Intensity stays within +/− 1 of mean value	Mean intensity ≥2 and < 4
	4. Minor/recovery	- no pain-free 4-weeks periods or - always pain = 0 (recovered)	Intensity stays within +/− 1 of mean value	Mean intensity < 2

PERSISTENT FLUCTUATING	5. Severe	No pain-free 4-weeks periods	Difference between mean and min or max value exceeds 1	Mean intensity ≥6
	6. Moderate	No pain-free 4-weeks periods	Difference between mean and min or max value exceeds 1	Mean intensity ≥4 and < 6
	7. Mild	No pain-free 4-weeks periods	Difference between mean and min or max value exceeds 1	Mean intensity ≥2 and < 4
	8. Minor	No pain-free 4-weeks periods	Difference between mean and min or max value exceeds 1	Mean intensity < 2

EPISODIC	9. Severe	Pain-free periods of min. 4 weeks in a row between weeks with pain. Four weeks or more without pain in the beginning or end of the course does not indicate a new episode.		Max intensity ≥6
	10. Moderate	Pain-free periods of min. 4 weeks in a row between weeks with pain. Four weeks or more without pain in the beginning or end of the course does not indicate a new episode.		Max intensity ≥4 and < 6
	11. Mild	Pain-free periods of min. 4 weeks in a row between weeks with pain. Four weeks or more without pain in the beginning or end of the course does not indicate a new episode.		Max intensity ≥2 and < 4
	12. Minor	Pain-free periods of min. 4 weeks in a row, but not always pain = 0. Four weeks or more without pain in the beginning or end of the course does not indicate a new episode.		Max intensity < 2

SINGLE EPISODE	13. Severe	One single episode or flare-up lasting 1–2 weeks (which are not the first or the last week of measurement)		Max intensity ≥6
	14. Moderate	One single episode or flare-up lasting 1–2 weeks (which are not the first or the last week of measurement)		Max intensity ≥4 and < 6
	15. Mild	One single episode or flare-up lasting 1–2 weeks (which are not the first or the last week of measurement)		Max intensity ≥2 and < 4
	16. Minor	One single episode or flare-up lasting 1–2 weeks (which are not the first or the last week of measurement)		Max intensity < 2