Chronic low back pain

Abstract

The care of patients with persistent non-specific low back pain is a common situation in general practice. Chronic non-specific low back pain is defined as back pain persisting for more than 6 weeks in the absence of an underlying pathology. Multiple different permutations of the structures in the back, such as joints, discs, muscles, tendons and ligaments, play a part in the development of chronic non-specific low back pain. With the right management, low back pain resolves or improves significantly in the majority of cases. However, if patients do not receive appropriate management in a timely fashion, there is a higher risk of them going on to experience significant negative physical, social, psychological and economic outcomes.