How long does physical therapy take for lower back pain

The American College of Physicians (ACP) is the largest medical-specialty society in the world. The organization’s 2017 guidelines advocate a non-invasive, non-pharmacologic approach for the treatment of acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain as first-line options.

The ACP recommends therapies administered by professionally trained physical therapists, including spinal manipulation, exercise, massage, and superficial heat, prior to resorting to pain-relieving drugs.

Here’s what to expect if you choose physical therapy for your lower back pain.

Your Initial Visit

At MOTION, we understand the devastating effects pain can have on your daily life. We empathize with the physical and mental toll pain exacts on you, your work, and your loved ones. That’s why we’re dedicated to helping you achieve long-term relief, so you can get back to enjoying your life.

Our licensed therapists treat clients of all ages, either in our state-of-the-art clinics or via telehealth visits. Our compassionate, highly trained staff includes physical, occupational, hand, and work injury therapy specialists.

As you prepare for your visit, jot down detailed notes about your symptoms, including anything that worsens or relieves the pain, and bring those notes to the session. During your visit, your therapist will ask you to move around in order to assess certain functions, so dress comfortably. Throughout this and every visit, we encourage you to ask questions and provide feedback.

During your first visit, our goal is to identify the probable cause of your lower back pain and whether that pain is acute or chronic. To accomplish this goal, we will conduct some or all of the following steps:

• An in-depth review of your medical history
• A thorough evaluation of your symptoms
• An assessment of your range of motion and strength
• An analysis of your gait and posture

Our licensed therapists are trained to conduct a thorough clinical exam. If we encounter any indication that you may need advanced diagnostic tests, we will refer you for those tests.

Physical Therapy Treatment Plan for Lower Back Pain

To develop a physical therapy treatment plan that specifically addresses your needs, we carefully evaluate your medical history, test results, and any additional information that you have provided.

Our goal for your physical therapy visits

We believe that physical therapy can make a positive impact on your life, especially if you are dealing with a condition like lower back pain. Our goals for your time with us include:

• Decreasing pain
• Increasing function
• Teaching you how to keep your back healthy long-term

Physical therapy sessions

Each MOTION appointment lasts 40 minutes, which is longer than a typical PT session. Longer sessions allow our therapists to provide more one-on-one time with each client.

Modalities that your physical therapist may use to treat your lower back pain include:

• Hot or cold packs (for acute pain)
• Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS), a therapy that uses mild electrical waves to help muscles and nerves recover
• Spinal manipulation to relieve pain and improve spinal mobility
• Exercises to strengthen your abdominal and pelvic floor muscles (core) to better support your back, relieve pain, and improve movement
• Exercises to strengthen abdominal, gluteal, and quadriceps muscles (flexion exercises) to decrease stress on the lower back
• Stretching exercises to improve range of motion and mobility
• Low-impact aerobic exercises (stationary bike, treadmill, bicycling, water therapy) to increase endurance

Your therapist will teach proper body posture techniques for sitting, standing, and lifting that reduce the likelihood of back strain or injury. You will also learn specific exercises to do at home. Regularly performing these recommended home exercises can help your back muscles strengthen more quickly.

Why physical therapy?

Physical therapy can be a holistic alternative to surgery, medication, and other treatment methods, especially if you’re experiencing lower back pain for the first time.

A study published in December 2018 in the journal Health Services Research found that starting physical therapy as a first step after experiencing acute low back pain decreases the long-term need for surgery or medications.

Dr. Steven George, director of musculoskeletal research at Duke Clinical Research Institute and a physical therapist, found that both the CDC and the American College of Physicians recommend early non-drug options for patients with musculoskeletal pain. In a research paper he co-authored, George noted that “early physical therapy could lead to fewer pain patients becoming dependent on opioids.”

MOTION PT Group

Since 2015, MOTION has provided transformative physical and occupational therapy services to clients of all ages. At MOTION, our mission is to improve the lives of every client as we help them get back to what moves them. Guided by our values of compassion, empowerment, integrity, and teamwork, we promise to remain committed to each and every patient.

Contact us today to schedule an in-clinic or telehealth appointment.

Original Editors - Fauve simoens

Top Contributors - Admin, Fauve simoens, Kim Jackson, Bo Hellinckx, Michael Caruso, Naomi O'Reilly, Laure VanderDonckt, Adu Omotoyosi Johnson, Lucinda hampton, Evan Thomas, Richard Benes, George Prudden, WikiSysop, Simisola Ajeyalemi, Oluwatosin Osasona, Samuel Adedigba, Nikhil Benhur Abburi, Liana Vorslava, Joshua Samuel, Michelle Lee, Rachael Lowe, Wanda van Niekerk and Cindy John-Chu
Page Owner - Liana Vorslava as part of the One Page Project

Low back pain (LBP) is the fifth most common reason for physician visits and affects nearly 60-80% of people throughout their lifetime.[1] Some studies have shown that up to 23% of the world’s adults suffer from chronic low back pain. This population has also shown a one-year recurrence rate of 24% to 80%[1]. Some estimates of lifetime prevalence are as high as 84% in the adult population[1]. A systematic review demonstrated an annual rate of adolescents suffering from back pain of 11.8% to 33%[1] 11-12% of the population being disabled by low back pain[2].

There are different definitions of low back pain depending on the source. According to the European Guidelines for prevention of low back pain, low back pain is defined as “pain and discomfort, localized below the costal margin and above the inferior gluteal folds, with or without leg pain"[3]  Another definition, according to S.Kinkade, which resembles the European guidelines is that low back pain is “pain that occurs posteriorly in the region between the lower rib margin and the proximal thighs”.[4]  The most common form of low back pain is the one that is called “non-specific low back pain” and is defined as “low back pain not attributed to recognizable, known specific pathology”[3].   

Low back pain is usually categorized in 3 subtypes: acute, sub-acute and chronic low back pain. This subdivision is based on the duration of the back pain. Acute low back pain is an episode of low back pain for less than 6 weeks, sub-acute low back pain between 6 and 12 weeks and chronic low back pain for 12 weeks or more.[3]

Low back pain that has been present for longer than three months is considered chronic. More than 80% of all health care costs can be attributed to chronic LBP. Nearly a third of people seeking treatment for low back pain will have persistent moderate pain for one year after an acute episode[5][6][7]. It is estimated that seven million adults in the United States have activity limitations as a result of chronic low back pain[8].

A fairly recent study looked at low back pain and the treatment with a long course of antibiotics in a certain population. The inclusion criteria was a previous disc herniation, >6 months back pain and type 1 modic changes adjacent to the previous herniation on MRI scan. Modic changes are where oedema is present in the vertebral body. These patients were treated with 100 days of antibiotics and at reassessment and 1 year follow up there was a statistically significant improvement in their pain levels. Therefore this is potentially something to consider in this population. [9][10]However, recent clinical guidelines issued by the NICE in the UK[11], The Danish Health Authority[12] and American College of Physicians[13] do not mention the use of antibiotics in the treatment of low back pain. Another guideline issued by the KCE in Belgium in 2017[14] states that it does not recommend the use of antibiotics, at any stage, for the treatment of low back or radicular pain.

Low Back Pain Examination[edit | edit source]

The first aim of the physiotherapy examination for a patient presenting with back pain is to classify the patient according to the diagnostic triage recommended in international back pain guidelines[15]. Serious (such as fracture, cancer, infection and ankylosing spondylitis) and specific causes of back pain with neurological deficits (such as radiculopathy, caudal equina syndrome) are rare[16] but it is important to screen for these conditions[15][17]. Serious conditions account for 1-2% of people presenting with low back pain and 5-10% present with specifics causes LBP with neurological deficits[18]. When serious and specific causes of low back pain have been ruled out individuals are said to have non-specific (or simple or mechanical) back pain.

Non-specific low back pain accounts for over 90% of patients presenting to primary care[19] and these are the majority of the individuals with low back pain that present to physiotherapy.  Physiotherapy assessment aims to identify impairments that may have contributed to the onset of the pain, or increase the likelihood of developing persistent pain. These include biological factors (eg. weakness, stiffness), psychological factors (eg. depression, fear of movement and catastrophisation) and social factors (eg. work environment)[20]. The assessment does not focus on identifying anatomical structures (eg. the intervertebral disc) as the source of pain, as might be the case in peripheral joints such as the knee[20]. Previous research and international guidelines suggest it is not possible or necessary to identify the specific tissue source of pain for the effective management of mechanical back pain[15][17][21]. Therefore the use of diagnostic imaging, especially in the first month, is not recommended. Diagnostic management should only be used if low back pain does not respond to recommended protocols and the management of the condition needs to be changed or more serious pathology is suspected.[22]

Leg pain is a frequent accompaniment to low back pain, arising from disorders of neural or musculoskeletal structures of the lumbar spine. Differentiating between different sources of radiating leg pain is important to make an appropriate diagnosis and identify the underlying pathology. Schäfer et al[23] proposed that low back-related leg pain be divided into four subgroups according to the predominating pathomechanisms involved. Each group presents with a distinct pattern of symptoms and signs although there may be considerable overlap between the classifications. The importance of distinguishing low back-related leg pain into these four groups is to facilitate diagnosis and provide a more effective, appropriate treatment:

1. Central sensitization with mainly positive symptoms such as hyperalgesia
2. Denervation with significant axonal damage showing predominantly negative sensory symptoms and possibly motor loss
3. Peripheral nerve sensitization with enhanced nerve trunk mechanosensitization
4. Somatic referred pain from musculoskeletal structures, such as the intervertebral disc or facet joints.

Management Strategies[edit | edit source]

There has been a recent move away from a pathoanatomical approach to managing individuals with back pain.  No longer do we aim to diagnose a structure at fault and aim our treatment at that particular structure.  Research and international guidelines suggest it is not possible or necessary to identify the specific tissue source of pain for the effective management of mechanical back pain[15][17][24].  Instead, a stratified approach to managing low back pain has become popular.

Recent guidelines[11][12][13][14]recommend advice and non-pharmacological management such as physiotherapy interventions that include exercise and manual therapy. Acupuncture is now only recommended by the ACP[13] for the management of individuals with back pain.  A recent study carried out by Ford et al[25] suggests that individualised Physiotherapy for people with LBP, utilizing a Specific Treatment of Problems of the Spine (STOPS) approach, may be more effective in managing LBP. To direct these treatment plans stratified care has been suggested as an appropriate approach[26]. Stratified care is the targeting of treatment to subgroups of patients based on characteristics.  Foster et al[26] suggest that there are 3 different approaches to stratification that have good evidence:

In a clinical trial study conducted by Finta et al [34] titled "The effect of diaphragm training on lumbar stabilizer muscles: a new concept for improving segmental stability in the case of low back pain" recent evidence suggested that diaphragm training has an effect on improving other active stabilizers of the lumbar spine, such as transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus muscles in the case of low back pain [34]

1. Patient prognosis- matching treatment to patients prognosis such as the likelihood of persistent pain and disability (e.g. STarT Back Screening Tool[27][28].
2. Responsiveness to treatment - matching treatments to individuals who would benefit from that treatment (e.g. Treatment Based Classification Approach to Low Back Pain, STOPS Trials).  
3. Underlying mechanisms - matching treatment to mechanisms that drive pain and disability such as pathology, pain mechanisms, negative thoughts and behaviours (e.g. Cognitive Functional Approach[29][30][31]).

Recently Almeida et al suggest two approaches, based on recent clinical guidelines when considering the management of patients with non-specific low back pain[32].

1. The traditional approach - stratifying patients by symptom duration - acute (less than 6 weeks), sub-acute (6-12 weeks) and chronic (more than 12 weeks) and then using a stepped approach to treatment beginning with simple therapies and only progressing to more complex treatments if there is no significant improvement. This approach is recommended by the US[13] and Danish[12] guidelines.
2. The use of Risk prediction tools, such as STarT Back, Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire and PICKUP, as suggested by the UK[11] and Belgian[14] guidelines, to determine the best treatment protocol based on their risk of poor clinical outcome.
   

Management of Low Back Pain: Adapted from Almeida et al

The use of these different stratification approaches vary around the world and there are overlaps between these three different approaches. A perfect subgrouping approach would include all three of these approaches. These models don’t replace clinical reasoning or experience but they do warrant judicious exploration in clinical practice in appropriate settings.

Contraindications[edit | edit source]

There are few contraindications to physiotherapy interventions for mechanical back pain as long as the diagnostic triage has been applied to identify people with serious causes of back pain. Osteoporosis is a contraindication to most manual therapy. Importantly, physiotherapists work in a model where effects of treatments are closely reassessed to minimise the likelihood of increasing symptoms or adverse events[20].

Prevention of Low Back Pain[edit | edit source]

Prevention is also categorized according to three types:

1. Primary prevention is defined as “specific practices for the prevention of disease or mental disorders in susceptible individuals or populations. These include health promotion, including mental health; protective procedures, such as communicable disease control; and monitoring and regulation of environmental pollutants. Primary prevention is to be distinguished from secondary prevention and tertiary prevention.”[33]  
2. Secondary prevention is defined as “the prevention of recurrences or exacerbations of a disease that already has been diagnosed. This also includes the prevention of complications or after-effects of a drug or surgical procedure”[33] 
3. Tertiary prevention as “measures aimed at providing appropriate supportive and rehabilitative services to minimize morbidity and maximize the quality of life after a long-term disease or injury is present”.[33]

The guidelines discuss different possibilities to prevent low back pain. Physical exercise is recommended to prevent consequences of low back pain, such as an absence of work and the occurrence of further episodes. Physical exercise is especially useful in training back extensors and trunk flexors in conjunction with regular aerobic training. There is no specific recommendation of exercise frequency or intensity.[3][4][34] With regard to the back school programs, a high-intensity program is advised in patients with recurrent and lasting low back pain but not in preventing low back pain. The program consists of exercises and an educational skills program. Education and information alone or based on the biomechanical model has only a small effect. Education and information in combination with other interventions, in a treatment setting, based on the biopsychosocial model has a better effect. Information based on the biopsychosocial model is focused on beliefs in low back pain and reducing work loss caused by low back pain. This attitude of giving information has a positive effect on back pain beliefs.[3]  It is important to know that individually tailored programs and intervention may have more results in comparison to group interventions.[34] Lumbar supports, back belts and shoe insoles are not recommended in the prevention of low back pain. Lumbar supports and back belts have also been shown to have a negative effect on back pain beliefs and are therefore are not recommended in preventing low back pain.[3][4] Specific mattresses and chairs for prevention have no evidence in favour or against. Medium support mattresses may decrease existing persistent symptoms of low back pain.[3] Ergonomic adjustments regarding the work environment can be necessary and useful to achieve earlier return to work.[3][35]

Exercises For Low Back[edit | edit source]

The exercise program includes a warm-up session of five exercises (awareness of the back, pelvic tilt, lumbar rotation, arm movements, whole-body movement in standing), well-known exercises targeting the muscles of the back extensors, abdominals, lateral buttocks, trunk rotators, posterior buttocks, leg muscles, oblique abdominals (e.g. the plank, diagonal arm and leg lift), as well as exercises for flexibility For each of the eight types of exercise. After each type of exercise, the patient should records the level of each exercise for each training session during the eight-week period.[36]

Guidelines[edit | edit source]

See Low Back Pain Guidlines

See McKenzie Method

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Casiano VE, De NK. Back Pain. InStatPearls [Internet] 2019 Feb 24. StatPearls Publishing. Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538173/ (last accessed 21.1.2020)
2. ↑ Balagué F1, Mannion AF, Pellisé F, Cedraschi C. Non-specific low back pain. Lancet. 2012 Feb 4;379(9814):482-91.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Burton AK. European guidelines for prevention in low back pain. COST B13 Working Group. 2004: 1-53.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Kinkade S. Evaluation and treatment of acute low back pain. Am Ac of Family Phys. 2007: 1182-1188.
5. ↑ Aure OF, Nilsen JH, Vasseljen O. Manual Therapy and Exercise Therapy in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized, Controlled Trial With 1-Year Follow-Up. Spine. 2003;28(6):525-532.
6. ↑ Ferreira ML, Ferreira PH, Latimer J, Herbert RD, Hodges PW, Jennings MD, Maher CG, Refshuage KM. Comparison of General Exercise, Motor Control Exercise and Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Trial. Pain. 2007;131:31-37.
7. ↑ Chou R, Qaseem A, Snow V, Casey D, Cross TJ, Shekelle P, Owens DK. Diagnosis and Treatment of Low Back Pain: A Joint Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society. Ann Intern Med. 2007;147:478-491.
8. ↑ Chou R. Pharmacological Management of Low Back Pain. Drugs [online]. 2010;70 (4):387-402. Available from MEDLINE with FULL TEXT. Accessed April 30, 2011.
9. ↑ Albert HB, Sorensen JS, Christensen BS, Manniche C. Antibiotic Treatment in Patients with Chronic Low back Pain and Vertebral Bone Edema (Modic Type 1 Changes): A Double-blind Randomized Clinical Controlled Trial of Efficacy. Euro Spine Journal 2013; 22: 607-707
10. ↑ British Association of Spinal Surgeons. Antibiotic Treatment for Chronic Low Back Pain. http://www.spinesurgeons.ac.uk/patients/antibiotics-back-pain (accessed 11 October 2015)
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management. NICE guideline [NG59]. London: NICE, 2016.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Stochkendahl MJ, Kjaer P, Hartvigsen J, et al. National Clinical Guidelines for non-surgical treatment of patients with recent onset low back pain or lumbar radiculopathy. Eur Spine J 2018; 27: 60-75.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, et al. Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med 2017; 166: 514-530.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Van Wambeke P, Desomer A, Ailliet L, et al. Summary: Low back pain and radicular pain: assessment and management. KCE report 287Cs. Brussels: Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE), 2017.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Koes BW, van Tulder M, Lin C-WC, Macedo LG, McAuley J, Maher C. An updated overview of clinical guidelines for the management of non-specific low back pain in primary care. Eur Spine J 2010;19:2075–94
16. ↑ Henschke N, Maher CG, Refshauge KM, et al. Prevalence of and screening for serious spinal pathology in patients presenting to primary care settings with acute low back pain. Arthritis Rheum 2009;60:3072–80.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 van Tulder M, Becker A, Bekkering T, et al. Chapter 3. European guidelines for the management of acute nonspecific low back pain in primary care. Eur Spine J 2006;15(Suppl 2):S169–91
18. ↑ O'Sullivan, P. and Lin, I. Acute low back pain Beyond drug therapies. Pain Management Today, 2014, 1(1):8-14
19. ↑ Koes BW, van Tulder MW, Thomas S. Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain. BMJ 2006;332:1430–34.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 M.Hancock. Approach to low back pain. RACGP, 2014, 43(3):117-118
21. ↑ Hancock MJ, Maher CG, Latimer J, et al. Systematic review of tests to identify the disc, SIJ or facet joint as the source of low back pain. Eur Spine J 2007;16:1539–50.
22. ↑ Hoffmann TC, Del Mar CB, Strong J, et al. Patients’ expectations of acute low back pain management: implications for evidence uptake. BMC Fam Pract 2013; 14: 7
23. ↑ Axel Schäfer, Toby Hall and Kathy Briffa. Classification of low back-related leg pain—A proposed patho-mechanism-based approach. fckLRManual Therapy, 2009;14(2):222-230
24. ↑ Hancock MJ, Maher CG, Latimer J, et al. Systematic review of tests to identify the disc, SIJ or facet joint as the source of low back pain. Eur Spine J 2007;16:1539–50.
25. ↑ Ford J, Hahne A, Surkitt L, Chan A, Richards M. The Evolving Case Supporting Individualised Physiotherapy for Low Back Pain. Journal of clinical medicine. 2019 Sep;8(9):1334.
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Foster N.E, Hill J.C, O'Sullivan P, Childs J.D, Hancock M.J. Stratified models of care for low back pain. WCPT Congress, Singapore, 2015
27. ↑ Hill JC, Dunn KM, Lewis M, Mullis R, Main CJ, Foster NE, Hay EM. A primary care back pain screening tool: identifying patient subgroups for initial treatment. Arthritis Care and Research 2008;59:632-41.
28. ↑ Hill JC, Whitehurst DG, Lewis M, Bryan S, Dunn KM, Foster NE, Konstantinou K, Main CJ, Mason E, Somerville S, Sowden G, Vohora K, Hay EM. Comparison of stratified primary care management for low back pain with current best practice (STarT Back): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2011;378:1560-71.
29. ↑ K Vibe Fersum, P O’Sullivan,2 JS Skouen, A Smith, and A Kvåle1. Efficacy of classification-based cognitive functional therapy in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. Eur J Pain. 2013 Jul; 17(6): 916–928.
30. ↑ Helen Clare, Roger Adams, Chris G Maher. A systematic review of efficacy of McKenzie therapy for spinal pain. THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOTHERAPY 50(4):209-16 · FEBRUARY 2004
31. ↑ Tom Petersen. Non-specific Low Back Pain: Classification and treatment. Lund University, 2003
32. ↑ Almeida M, Saragiotto, Richards B, Maher C. Primary care management of non-specific low back pain: key messages from recent clinical guidelines. Med J Aust 2018; 208 (6): 272-275
33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 National Center of Biotechnology Information [www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]. Brussels [cited 2011 Apr 17]. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/.
34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 van Poppel MNM , WE. An update of a systematic review of controlled clinical trials on the primary prevention of back pain at the workplace. Occupational Medicine. 2004: p 345-352.
35. ↑ Van Nieuwenhuyse, P. G. The role of physical workload and pain-related fear in the development of low back pain in young workers: evidence from the BelCoBack Study; results after one year of follow up. Occup Environ Med. 2006: p 45-52.
36. ↑ Kjaer P, Kongsted A, Ris I, Abbott A, Rasmussen CD, Roos EM, Skou ST, Andersen TE, Hartvigsen J. GLA: D® Back group-based patient education integrated with exercises to support self-management of back pain-development, theories and scientific evidence. BMC musculoskeletal disorders. 2018 Dec 1;19(1):418.

34.↑ Finta R, Nagy E, Bender T. The effect of diaphragm training on lumbar stabilizer muscles: a new concept for improving segmental stability in the case of low back pain. Journal of pain research. 2018;11:3031.