The Physiopedia articles relating to low back pain have recently been updated with respect to new guidelines on primary care management of non-specific low back pain published in the Medical Journal of Australia
According to the Global Burden of Disease in 2015, at any one time, 540 million people were affected by Low back pain. It is estimated that 90-95% of these cases are classified as non-specific low back pain(or mechanical low back pain) – a term used to describe symptoms that have no specific cause. Because of the high incidence of back pain research has been carried out on the efficacy of current treatment options ranging from non-pharmacological, pharmacological and surgery.
The management of back pain varies between clinicians and individuals and what works for one person may not work for another. But a key message that is relevant for anyone experiencing back pain isto keep active. This is an important message as research has shown that acute episodes of LBP have a good prognosis and improve rapidly in the first 6 weeks. After this any improvements may be slower and management in these initial stages is vital to ensure that clients receive the best treatment according to their presentation and needs. These revised guidelines, from theUK, Belgium, Denmark and United States suggest new approaches to first line care and management of LBP.
So find a quiet corner, grab a cup of coffee and check out the Low Back Pain Category and the updated Physiopedia pages on non-specific low back pain:
- Chronic Low Back Pain
- Inactivity and Low back pain
- Low Back Pain
- Low Back Pain Guidelines
- Merging stratification approaches in physical therapy management of a case of subacute low back pain
- Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE)
- STarT Back Approach
- Treatment Based Classification Approach to Low Back Pain
- Lumbar Strain
- Non Specific Low Back Pain
- Interventions for LBP