One in ten people are experiencing low back pain at any point in time worldwide. Approximately 90% of low back pain cases have no identifiable pathoanatomical cause, and are called ‘non-specific low back pain'.
There are a number of published national and international clinical guidelines to support the management of low back pain. Although many groups have developed these clinical practice guidelines for LBP management, they tend to contain relatively uniform recommendations incorporating best available evidence, clinician expertise and patients’ preferences.
Education is recommended in most guidelines, but most guidelines do not specify what content should be included in patient education, leaving this open to interpretation and marked heterogeneity in the clinical approach.
Patients expressed a strong desire for clear, consistent and personalised information on prognosis, treatment options and self-management strategies, related to healthcare and occupational issues.
To correct unhelpful beliefs and optimise delivery of evidence-based therapy, patient and health professional education, potentially by an integrated public health approach may be warranted.
> From: Lim et al., J Physiother 65 (2019) 124-135 (Epub ahead of print). All rights reserved to Australian Physiotherapy Association. Click here for the online summary.
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