*Image source: Christian Joudrey

Four out of five Canadians experience at least one episode of low back pain (LBP) at some point in their life. Physiotherapy for patients with LBP is effective in reducing both acute and chronic pain while significantly limiting the risk of increased disability and chronic conditions.

Role of Physiotherapy in the Management of LBP

Physiotherapy has a primary role in the management of and recovery from LBP. Interventions focus on pain relief and the prevention of future occurrence of pain and injury, as well return to function. Physiotherapy management of LBP includes assessment and diagnosis, exercise prescription, education, self-management strategies, workplace intervention, manual therapy and modalities. Physiotherapists may also triage LBP patients to ensure they receive the most appropriate treatment, conservative or surgical management. Physiotherapist-led spinal triage clinics reduce wait times to outpatient orthopedic departments, reduce the ordering of unnecessary diagnostics and enable early access to physiotherapy by directing patients to conservative management treatment options in a timely manner.

Impact on Patient Experience

Physiotherapists provide patient-centered care in the management of LBP.

• Physiotherapy reduces pain and improves function, for acute and chronic LBP.
• Patients value prompt access to physiotherapy for new episode of LBP in primary care in particular for reassurance provided.
• Physiotherapists working in a triage role in collaboration with orthopedic surgeons effectively manage the care of LBP patients, decrease wait times for specialized care and diagnostics and improve health outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Impact on Population Health

Early access to physiotherapy management of LBP has a significant long-term impact on health, by preventing chronic disability and decreasing the proportion of acute LBP cases that become chronic.

• Physiotherapy reduces pain, disability and time off work, and improves quality of life.
• Physiotherapy management of LBP reduces pain and improves function.
• Physiotherapists create individualized programs with a focus on self-managment and maintenance of health resulting in positive lifelong lifestyle changes.

Summary

Evidence suggests that physiotherapy reduces severity of LBP pain both in the short and long terms, thereby improving quality of life while reducing overall health care costs. The economic burden of LBP is significant and continues to grow with indirect costs, as a result of lost work productivity, representing the majority of overall costs associated with LBP. Investment in early access to physiotherapy is a cost-effective strategy to reduce the economic burden of LBP.

Download the Low Back Pain Brief Sheet

The Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) represents physiotherapists, physiotherapist assistants and physiotherapist students across Canada. CPA members are rehabilitation professionals dedicated to the health, mobility and fitness of Canadians.

Physiotherapists are primary health care professionals who combine their in-depth knowledge of the body and how it works with specialized hands-on clinical skills to assess, diagnose and treat symptoms of illness, injury or disability.

More than 20,000 registered physiotherapists work in Canada, in private clinics, general and rehabilitation hospitals, community health centres, residential care and assisted-living facilities, home visit agencies, workplaces, and schools.

The CPA presents its educational references as a public service and for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the opinions of the CPA membership.