Low back pain (LBP) remains one of the most common reasons people seek physiotherapy, but the evidence is evolving.

Low back pain (LBP) remains one of the most common reasons people seek physiotherapy, but the evidence is evolving.

A new research review in the Journal of Physiotherapy brings together five years of research (2020–2025) on how we diagnose and predict outcomes in low back pain. It confirms what many clinicians see in practice: serious spinal pathologies are rare, imaging is often overused, and most LBP does not have a single clear anatomical cause. At the same time, recovery is common, even when pain has lasted longer than expected, and understanding individual prognostic factors can support more person-centred, evidence-based practice.

This research helps physiotherapists navigate uncertainty with confidence, using the best available evidence to guide decisions and conversations with patients.

Read the recent highlights in volume 72 of the Journal of Physiotherapy, available now 🔗 https://bit.ly/4pxmKGk

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1836955325001456