Primary Care Interventions to Prevent Low Back Pain

Release Date: February 2004

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against the routine use of interventions to prevent low back pain in adults in primary care settings.
Rating: I Recommendation.

Rationale: The USPSTF found no new good evidence for or against the use of back strengthening exercises or risk factor modification (e.g., increased physical activity, smoking cessation, or reduced alcohol consumption) for the primary prevention of low back pain in adults. There is limited evidence that educational sessions in occupational settings (e.g., back schools) produce modest short-term benefits in adults with recurrent or chronic low back pain, but no evidence that such education prevents back pain in healthy individuals or those at risk for back pain. Some interventions, such as mechanical supports, may increase the risk for low back pain. As a result, the USPSTF could not determine the balance between benefits and harms of the different interventions that may be used to prevent low back pain.

Primary Care Interventions to Prevent Low Back Pain in Adults, February 2004
Recommendation Statement
Brief Evidence Update