Education — the key to busting myths about the need for imaging for low back pain
Lauren Finestone
A study shows how common incorrect beliefs about spinal scans are and reinforces the importance of education when managing patients with this condition.Clinical practice guidelines recommend against getting scans for most cases of low back pain unless serious problems like fractures or tumours are suspected. And yet many people think that getting X-rays, MRIs or CT scans can show them what's causing their pain. They often ask for these tests, even when they're not needed, and believe these tests are harmless. The truth is, that routine imaging for back pain doesn't improve back pain. And the n...