J Can Chiropr Assoc 2026 (Apr); 70 (1): 27-54

Appendix 3. Study responder analysis results
(not applicable for Learman 2013, Dougherty 2014, or Enix 2015)

Author Surname and Year Condition Responder Analysis for within group differences Between-group effect estimate(s) for other health services outcomes
Maiers 2014 Neck pain The proportion of patients with ≥50% pain reduction was meaningfully greater among those receiving SMT+HEA compared to HEA alone at week 12, yet not meaningfully different at week 52, or for either timepoint for ≥30% and ≥75% pain reduction. Duration of medication use at 12 weeks (MD w/ 95% CI)

  • SMT+HEA vs. HEA: −0.31 [−0.94, 0.31] (p>.05)

  • SMT+HEA vs. SRE+HEA: −0.33 [−0.96, 0.30] (p>.05)
Maiers 2019 Neck and back disability No statistically significant differences in proportions reaching 15%, 30% or 50% improvement in disability at 12 or 36 weeks. Baseline self-efficacy and improvements in self-efficacy and kinesiophobia were individually associated with clinically important reductions in disability post-intervention, although not in adjusted models when LBP duration was included. There were statistically significant between group differences in the SPPB overall score, and in the SPPB balance test sub-score in favor of the long-term management group. No significant between-group difference for medication use.
Medication use at 36 weeks (MD w/ 95% CI)

  • 0.5 (95% CI: –0.2, 1.1) p = 0.16
Schneider 2019 Lumbar spinal stenosis MT/IE had a greater proportion of responders (>=30% improvement) in symptoms and physical function (20%) and walking capacity (65.3%) at 2 months compared with medical care (7.6%and 48.7%, respectively) or group exercise (3.0% and 46.2%, respectively). No between-group differences in physical activity responder rates were found at 2 months (difference in percentage for MT/IE vs medical care [95% CI], –7% [–21% to 7%]; difference in percentage for MT/IE vs group exercise [95% CI], 1% [–15% to 16%].) There were no between-group differences in the number of self-reported falls or medical cointerventions between the end of care and 6-month follow-up. At 6 months, only a small minority of participants reported having spinal surgery (medical care: 2 of 79 [3%]; group exercise: 1 of 67 [2%]; manual therapy/individualized exercise: 1 of 80 [2%])
Schulz 2019 Low back pain Similar between group responder analysis for no pain reduction, or pain reductions of ≥30% (meaningful improvement), ≥ 50% (substantial improvement), ≥75%, and 100%. Differences in proportions for reduction of LBP severity were mostly below 10%. The largest differences were for SMT+HEP over HEP alone at week 12 where 16 and 18% more participants had pain severity reductions of 30% and 50%, respectively. Short Term medication use at weeks 4 to 12 (MD w/ 95% CI)

  • SMT+HEP minus HEP: −0.08 [−0.42, 0.27]

Long term medication use at weeks 4 to 52 (MD w/ 95% CI)

  • SMT+HEP minus HEP: 0.09 [−0.22, 0.40]

Abbreviations:

CI = Confidence Intervals;
HEA = Home Exercise and Advice;
HEP = Home Exercise Program;
MD = mean difference;
MT/IE = Manual Therapy/Individualized Exercise;
SPPB = Short Physical Performance Battery;
SRE = Supervised Rehabilitative Exercise;
SMT = Spinal Manipulative Therapy.