Skip to main content
Device Global Header

Subscribe
or Renew

Advanced Search

This article is available to subscribers. Subscribe now. Already have an account? Sign in

Clinical PracticeFree Preview

Nonspecific Low Back Pain

List of authors.
  • Alessandro Chiarotto, P.T., Ph.D.,
  • and Bart W. Koes, Ph.D.

Nonspecific low back pain is diagnosed by ruling out other causes, usually by means of history taking and physical examination; imaging is not routinely indicated. Patients with acute nonspecific low back pain should receive education about the condition and advice to remain active; most recover within weeks. Exercise therapy and behavioral therapy are recommended for chronic low back pain.

Continue reading this article

Select an option below:

Create your account to get 2 free subscriber-only articles each month.

Get Free Access Now Subscribe For Full Access

Already have an account?

Sign In

Print subscriber?

Activate your online access.

Funding and Disclosures

Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article at NEJM.org.

Author Affiliations

From the Department of General Practice, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam (A.C., B.W.K.), and the Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam (A.C.) — both in the Netherlands; and the Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense (B.W.K.).

Dr. Chiarotto can be contacted at or at the Department of General Practice, Erasmus University Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Print Subscriber? Activate your online access.