Table 1 Search Strategy Example. The search strategy below was used to conduct the MEDLINE search for the current systematic review and meta-analysis. Database: Ovid MEDLINE(R) 1946 to Present

1

Back Pain/

2

Low Back Pain/

3

Sciatica/

4

Radiculopathy/

5

(back pain or low back pain or radiculopathy or sciatica or back?ache or lumbago).mp^a

6

(pain or ache or aching or complaint or dysfunction or disability or disorder).mp^a

7

Back or spine or lumbar or lumbar spine or low*back).mp^a

8

6 and 7

9

1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 8

10

(screen* or risk screen* or risk).mp^a

11

(tool or questionnaire or instrument).mp^a

12

10 and 11

13

9 and 12

14

(predict* or prognosis or prediction rule* or early identification or predictive validity or predictive factors or prognostic or prognostic indicators).mp^a

15

13 and 14

16

Limit 15 to (English language and humans)