Exercise for acute lower back pain

Low back pain present for less than six weeks, in patients who do not have neurological deficits.

To improve pain intensity and functional status.

Specific diagnoses should be considered for patients with clinical features of infection, malignancy and a history of trauma, or when pain worsens or persists without improvement.

There was only a benefit in patients with acute low-back pain not associated with objective neurological deficits.

Patients should avoid heavy lifting, bending or twisting until the pain improves.

There is no evidence that staying active is harmful.

Staying active means continuing with normal daily activities as much as possible, including going to work. It also means avoiding sitting still for long periods of time.

Staying active does not mean participating in any specific exercises.

There is often confusion about what ‘staying active’ means. It means different things to different patients. For an office worker it might mean avoiding sitting for long periods and using a sit-stand desk, while for an athlete it might mean light training.

Staying active does not mean undertaking any particular activity and it does not mean resting.

Patients often fear that pain is a sign of deterioration and further damage. They may need reassurance that pain is likely to subside and that ongoing pain is unlikely to cause further damage.

NHMRC Level 1 Evidence.

Further information about acute low- back pain management is available from the Australian Acute Musculoskeletal Pain Guidelines Group’s Evidence-based Management of Acute Musculoskeletal Pain.
The Australian Prescriber has published a care pathway for low back pain with first and second line management strategies.

Patient information sheet about what to do if experiencing low back pain.