Baseline characteristics
| Selected baseline characteristics* | Advice to remain active (N=178)* | Advice to rest (N=182)* | Immediate physiotherapy (N=178)* |
| Age, mean (SD) | 49.1 (13.9) years | 50.3 (14.2) years | 48.2 (12.8) years |
| Gender (male) | 77 (43.3%) | 87 (47.8%) | 81 (45.5%) |
| Body mass index, mean (SD) | 27.3 (5.04) kg/m2 | 27.5 (5.25) kg/m2 | 27.1 (4.47) kg/m2 |
| Employment status | |||
| Full-time work | 79 (44.4%) | 94 (51.9%) | 98 (55.4%) |
| Part-time work | 39 (21.9%) | 28 (15.5%) | 29 (16.4%) |
| Retired | 29 (16.3%) | 31 (17.1%) | 17 (9.6%) |
| Other | 31 (17.4%) | 28 (15.5%) | 33 (18.6%) |
| Handedness | |||
| Right | 155 (87.1%) | 154 (84.6%) | 162 (91.0%) |
| Left | 18 (10.1%) | 17 (9.3%) | 13 (7.3%) |
| Both | 5 (2.8%) | 11 (6.0%) | 3 (1.7%) |
| Broad diagnosis | |||
| Elbow | 50 (28.1%) | 53 (29.1%) | 53 (29.8%) |
| Wrist/hand | 61 (34.3%) | 62 (34.1%) | 58 (32.6%) |
| Both | 67 (37.6%) | 67 (36.8%) | 67 (37.6%) |
| Specific problem† | |||
| Specific | 127 (74.7%) | 107 (60.5%) | 114 (66.3%) |
| Non-specific | 43 (25.3%) | 70 (39.5%) | 58 (33.7%) |
| Laterality of problem | |||
| Dominant | 80 (44.9%) | 83 (45.6%) | 81 (45.5%) |
| Non-dominant | 54 (30.3%) | 55 (30.2%) | 52 (29.2%) |
| Bilateral | 44 (24.7%) | 44 (24.2%) | 45 (25.3%) |
| Duration of problem | |||
| ≤1 month | 38 (22.2%) | 38 (21.6%) | 26 (15.2%) |
| >1 month | 133 (77.8%) | 138 (78.4%) | 145 (84.8%) |
| Pain severity, median (IQR)‡ | |||
| Right side | 5 (1, 7) | 5 (2, 7) | 5 (2, 7) |
| Left side | 3 (0, 6) | 3 (0, 6) | 3 (0, 7) |
| Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, mean (SD) | 3.62 (5.60) | 3.67 (5.77) | 3.63 (5.99) |
| Baseline mDASH‡ score, mean (SD) | 5.9 (2.8) | 5.8 (2.8) | 5.9 (2.7) |
| EQ-5D health utility score, mean (SD) | 0.674 (0.222) | 0.667 (0.233) | 0.655 (0.224) |
*All data presented as N (%), unless otherwise specified.
†Numbers do not sum to randomised totals, due to missing data from clinical examination and, thus, an inability to classify all participants.
‡On how many days in the past 7 days did you have pain in your elbow, forearm, wrist or hand? (0–10 numerical rating scale).
EQ-5D, EuroQol 5D; mDASH, modified Disabilities of Arm Shoulder and Hand questionnaire.