| Years in relation to rehabilitation | 2 years after, RR (95% CI) | 3 years after, RR (95% CI) | 4 years after,RR (95% CI) | p for trend difference after rehabilitation | |||||
| 3 years before, RR (95% CI) | 2 years before, RR (95% CI) | 1 year before, RR (95% CI) | Year of start of rehabilitation, RR (95% CI) | 1 year after, RR (95% CI) | |||||
| Short spells (<3 days) | |||||||||
| Non-rehabilitees (n = 34 225) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | |
| Back pain rehabilitees (n = 418) | 1.30 (1.15 to 1.45) | 1.36 (1.22 to 1.52) | 1.36 (1.22 to 1.52) | 1.25 (1.12 to 1.39) | 1.29 (1.16 to 1.43) | 1.25 (1.12 to 1.39) | 1.33 (1.20 to 1.48) | 1.29 (1.16 to 1.43) | p = 0.5664 |
| Neck pain rehabilitees (n = 195) | 1.34 (1.11 to 1.61) | 1.26 (1.04 to 1.53) | 1.53 (1.33 to 1.76) | 1.20 (1.03 to 1.40) | 1.35 (1.17 to 1.55) | 1.34 (1.15 to 1.56) | 1.31 (1.12 to 1.53) | 1.42 (1.21 to 1.67) | p = 0.0739 |
| All long spells (>3 days) | |||||||||
| Non-rehabilitees | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | |
| Back pain rehabilitees | 2.46 (2.23 to 2.72) | 2.18 (1.98 to 2.40) | 2.42 (2.21 to 2.65) | 2.20 (1.99 to 2.42) | 2.14 (1.96 to 2.34) | 2.06 (1.87 to 2.27) | 2.05 (1.87 to 2.25) | 1.89 (1.72 to 2.07) | p = 0.0017 |
| Neck pain rehabilitees | 1.56 (1.26 to 1.93) | 1.58 (1.34 to 1.86) | 1.81 (1.56 to 2.09) | 1.63 (1.40 to 1.91) | 1.90 (1.65 to 2.19) | 1.61 (1.38 to 1.88) | 1.72 (1.49 to 1.98) | 1.72 (1.49 to 1.99) | p = 0.7843 |
| Very long spells (>21 days) | |||||||||
| Non-rehabilitees | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | |
| Back pain rehabilitees | 2.64 (2.16 to 3.22) | 2.74 (2.25 to 3.35) | 3.03 (2.55 to 3.60) | 2.72 (2.26 to 3.28) | 2.36 (1.98 to 2.83) | 2.18 (1.82 to 2.62) | 1.88 (1.65 to 2.37) | 2.15 (1.82 to 2.53) | p = 0.0296 |
| Neck pain rehabilitees | 1.47 (0.97 to 2.24) | 1.54 (1.02 to 2.31) | 1.82 (1.29 to 2.57) | 1.80 (1.28 to 2.52) | 1.79 (1.30 to 2.47) | 1.78 (1.32 to 2.38) | 1.70 (1.32 to 2.20) | 1.96 (1.53 to 2.51) | p = 0.7101 |
| Prescribed analgesics (DDD) | |||||||||
| Non-rehabilitees | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | |
| Back pain rehabilitees | 1.96 (1.39 to 2.77) | 2.60 (2.05 to 3.31) | 2.81 (2.21 to 3.57) | 2.85 (2.05 to 3.96) | 2.78 (2.07 to 3.74) | 2.23 (1.72 to 2.89) | 2.13 (1.71 to 2.65) | 2.20 (1.60 to 3.02) | p = 0.0198 |
| Neck pain rehabilitees | 2.38 (1.72 to 3.30) | 2.34 (1.72 to 3.18) | 2.65 (1.88 to 3.73) | 2.87 (1.99 to 4.16) | 2.46 (1.74 to 3.48) | 2.11 (1.44 to 3.09) | 2.21 (1.63 to 3.00) | 1.80 (1.32 to 2.47) | p = 0.0035 |
Rate ratios (95% CI) are derived from repeated measures Poisson regression analysis with generalised estimating equations adjusted for the year of rehabilitation, gender, age and occupational status.