Predicting – without overtreating – chronic LBP
Gabrielle Lis
A screening tool developed in Australia could help workers’ compensation systems and treating practitioners better target early intervention initiatives for workers with lower back pain.Early intervention helps prevent the development of chronic lower back pain (LBP). However, offering tests and treatment to everyone who experiences an episode of LBP is a waste of money, because many people won’t go on to develop a chronic problem. Worse, unnecessary tests and treatment can actually cause harm. For instance, a scan that shows normal age-related changes to the spine may be interpreted as showing damage, leading an injured p...