Inclusion criteria | Rationale |
---|---|
18 to 64Â years old | Chronic low back pain in older adults is more likely to have specific causes (e.g., spinal canal stenosis) |
Current non-specific low back pain persisting ≥12 weeks | Condition studied is specifically chronic |
Mean low back pain intensity for the previous week ≥4 on a 0 to 10 numerical rating scale (0 = no pain to 10 = worst possible pain) | Back pain severe enough to detect improvement and prevent against floor effects |
English fluency sufficient to follow treatment instructions and answer survey questions | Fully informed consent and data collection |
Willingness to list comprehensive contact information for at least one (preferably two) friend, family member, or work colleague who will always know how to contact the participant | Minimize loss to follow-up |