Care for Adults With Acute Low Back Pain
Quality standards are sets of concise statements designed to help health care professionals easily and quickly know what care to provide, based on the best evidence.
See below for a summary of the quality standard or download it for more detailed statements.
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Quality Statement 1: Clinical Assessment
People with acute low back pain who seek primary care receive a prompt comprehensive assessment.
Quality Statement 2: Diagnostic Imaging
People with acute low back pain do not receive diagnostic imaging tests unless they present with red flags that suggest serious pathological disease.
Quality Statement 3: Patient Education and Self-Management
People with acute low back pain are offered education and ongoing support for self-management that is tailored to their needs.
Quality Statement 4: Maintaining Usual Activity
People with acute low back pain are encouraged to stay physically active by continuing to perform activities of daily living, with modification if required.
Quality Statement 5: Psychosocial Information and Support
People with acute low back pain who have psychosocial barriers to recovery (yellow flags) identified during their comprehensive assessment are offered further information and support to manage the identified barriers.
Quality Statement 6: Pharmacological Therapies
People with acute low back pain whose symptoms do not adequately improve with physical activity, education, reassurance, and self-management support are offered information on the risks and benefits of nonopioid analgesics to improve mobility and function.
Quality Statement 7: Additional Nonpharmacological Therapies
People with acute low back pain whose symptoms do not adequately improve with physical activity, education, reassurance, and self-management support are offered information on the risks and benefits of additional nonpharmacological therapies to improve mobility and function.