A population-based study of nearly 15 000 observations among Swedish women and men during 1973-2003.

Objectives: Global self-rated health (SRH) has become extensively used as an outcome measure in population health surveillance. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of age and secular trend (year of investigation) on SRH.

Design: Prospective cohort study, using population-based data from eight ongoing cohort studies, with sampling performed between 1973 and 2003.

A randomized controlled trial of the effects of muscle stretching, manual therapy and steroid injections in addition to 'stay active' care on health-related quality of life in acute or subacute low back pain.

Objective: To evaluate the health-related quality of life effects of muscle stretching, manual therapy and steroid injections in addition to 'stay active' care in acute or subacute low back pain patients.

Study Design: A randomized, controlled trial during 10 weeks with four treatment groups.

Setting: Nine primary health care and one outpatient orthopaedic hospital department.

Diagnostic differences between general practitioners and orthopaedic surgeons in low back pain patients.

Background: There is a growing consensus on low back pain treatment. However, whether this extends to diagnostic labelling is still largely unknown. The aim of this report was to compare the diagnostic assessment of low back pain patients between general practitioners trained in manual therapy and orthopaedic surgeons.

The course of pain drawings during a 10-week treatment period in patients with acute and sub-acute low back pain.

Background: Pain drawings are widely used as an assessment of patients' subjective pain in low back pain patients being considered for surgery. Less work has been done on primary health care patients. Moreover, the possible correlation between pain drawing modalities and other pain assessment methods, such as pain score and functional variables needs to be described.

A randomized controlled clinical trial of stay-active care versus manual therapy in addition to stay-active care: functional variables and pain.

Objectives: To compare the effect of manual therapy in addition to the stay-active concept versus the stay-active concept only in low back pain patients.

Study Design: A randomized, controlled trial during 10 weeks.

Methods: One hundred sixty outpatients with acute or subacute low back pain were recruited from a geographically defined area.