Addressing low back pain worldwide: 4 things to know

Spine

Low back pain is the leading cause worldwide of years lost to disability, and its burden is increasing along with a growing — and aging — population. A viewpoint article in The Lancet calls for action on this global problem.

Here are four things to know.

1. The authors advocate that practitioners embrace the notion of positive health, or the ability to adapt and self-manage in the face of social, physical and emotional challenges, for the treatment of non-specific low back pain.

2. The article advices medical professionals to avoid useless and harmful treatments by only including treatments in public reimbursement packages if evidence demonstrates they are safe, cost-effective and effective.

3. Clinicians should address widespread misconceptions among the general public and health professionals about the causes, prognosis and efficacy of different treatments for low back pain, according to the authors.

4. Policymakers, public health and healthcare professionals, social service workers and workplaces must collaborate to address the low back pain paradox in low- and middle-income countries, in which improving socioeconomic conditions could prevent or reduce low back pain incidence, but also create expectation and demand for low-value healthcare that increases the risk of long-term back-related disability.

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