Managing acute low back pain – beyond medications

This is an article written by the Pain-Ed team in Perth, Australia. The primary audience was medical doctors, although the content is relevant to all. The key messages include the need to initially rule out serious pathology, and thereafter to address the primary barriers to recovery. While the specific strategies used might vary between individuals, they include assessing the role of “psychosocial” factors such as fear, worry and stress, promoting a gradual return to physical activity and normal activities, avoiding unwarranted scans and enhancing overall health (sleep, stress, mood, phyiscal activity) in the medium term.