The majority of patients experiencing acute pain recover, however more than 40% continues to have pain lasting for a period of 3 months or longer. Many factors have been shown to influence long-term pain episodes; however, interventions with the intention of reducing psychosocial and environmental risks factors are often only marginally successful in decreasing the incidence of long-term pain and disability. Now selective pain sensitivity and differential gene expression profiles have also been demonstrated in patients with acute low back pain.