Chronic Low Back Pain Management Strategies
Summary
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide and demands a multimodal management approach. Initial strategies often prioritise non-pharmacological therapies such as structured exercise programmes, manual therapy and patient education to enhance function and self-management. Cognitive and behavioural interventions, including pain neuroscience education and mindfulness training, address the psychological dimensions of pain and promote adaptive coping. Pharmacological options—ranging from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to cautiously prescribed adjuvant agents—are integrated when conservative measures prove insufficient, with careful attention to risk–benefit profiles. Interventional procedures, such as epidural injections and neuromodulation, are reserved for recalcitrant cases and are delivered within multidisciplinary frameworks. Emerging modalities, including telehealth-guided rehabilitation and digital self-management tools, extend access and support long-term adherence. Across settings, tailored programmes emphasise patient engagement, functional restoration and minimisation of disability, reflecting an evolving consensus on personalised, biopsychosocial care.
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Chronic Low Back Pain Management Strategies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in chronic low back pain management strategies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Central sensitization: amplification of neural signalling within the central nervous system leading to heightened pain sensitivity.
Hidden semi-Markov model: statistical framework that identifies and quantifies transitions between latent states in sequential data.
Neuromuscular exercise: targeted training designed to improve muscle coordination, strength and spinal stability.
Fear-avoidance beliefs: the tendency to evade activity due to concern about pain or injury, which may perpetuate disability.
References
- Relationship between physical activity and central sensitization in chronic low back pain: Insights from machine learning. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine (2023).
- A Systematic Review of the Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity on Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain. Healthcare (2016).
- Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of neuromuscular exercise and back care counseling in female healthcare workers with recurrent non-specific low back pain: a blinded four-arm randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health (2018).
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