The Recent Trend in Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain

• Main Author: Shinichi Kikuchi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research 2017-01-01
• Series: Spine Surgery and Related Research
• Subjects: chronic low back pain; diagnosis; treatment
• Online Access: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ssrr/1/1/1_1.2016-0022/_pdf/-char/en

Introduction: Development of evidence-based medicine has made a big change in diagnosis and treatment of chronic low back pain. The recent trend is assessed through a review of literature. Methods: The articles published in these 10 years are reviewed, and important points are examined. Results: In diagnosis, challenges for history taking and limit of imaging or clinical guidelines are revealed. In treatment, cognitive behavioral treatment and exercises are proved effective. Sleep disturbance has recently attracted attention as a factor associated with low back pain. Cost-effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment modalities has come to be emphasized. Conclusions: Diagnosis and treatment of chronic low back pain have been significantly changing. Multidisciplinary and multidimensional approach is essential. Chronic low back pain should be treated as a total pain, not a local pain.