Successful management of low back pain begins with understanding that the typical course of acute and chronic LBP are completely different.
Acute LBP
A ground breaking meta analysis of 126 controlled trials of non-specific back pain, concluded that it is highly likely that a majority of acute LBP cases will see improvements no matter what treatment is given [1],[2]. Certainly, serious and complex cases of LBP exist [3],[4]. However the majority of acute LBP presentations will naturally recover over time regardless of the intervention approach.
Chronic LBP
Strong evidence suggests that the prognosis of a presentation of chronic LBP is initially favorable however recurrence is high. Published data reveals that more than two-thirds of individuals who recover from an episode of chronic LBP have a relapse within 12 months from recovery [2].
Given the variability in prognosis and complexity of back pain, it is critical that physiotherapists adhere to best practice management of LBP.
This website resource focuses on the following management approaches deemed to be the most effective for all cases of LBP.
Before getting stuck into the resource…..We encourage you to test YOUR knowledge and confidence in implementing current guideline-based advice for the management of LBP in the survey below.
This will help you identify your own learning needs, knoweldge gaps and enable you to get the most out of this resource. Ultimately, helping you be a better clinician!