When low back pain has no identifiable structural cause and persists beyond 12 weeks in adults aged 18 and over, it crosses the clinical threshold that guidelines define as chronic. At that point, the evidence base shifts, and a specific set of interventions — spanning both physical and psychological approaches — becomes relevant. The structured regimen is available via the link below.
This protocol addresses adults (age 18 years or over) presenting with non-specific low back pain — no identifiable pathological cause — whose symptoms have persisted for more than 12 weeks. Clinical practice guidelines consistently apply this 12-week threshold to define the chronic phase and calibrate management accordingly.
Multiple clinical practice guidelines support a multimodal strategy for this population. Structured exercise-based interventions and certain oral pharmacological options feature prominently across recommendations — but the approach also extends into psychological and complementary modalities. The full evidence-based selection, prioritisation, and sequencing are contained in the complete protocol.
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-024-07468-0