No Clinical Benefit for Early Physical Therapy in Recent-Onset Low Back Pain

Results support clinical practice guidelines advising against early physical therapy.

Increasing use of imaging, opioids, and interventions (both percutaneous and surgical) in patients with low back pain is expensive and is not associated with better outcomes. Early physical therapy (PT) has been proposed to avoid these interventions, but clinical practice guidelines recommend against such use (NEJM JW Gen Med Nov 15 2007 and Ann Intern Med 2007; 147:478). Researchers in Utah randomized 220 adults (mean age, 37) with recent-onset low back pain (<16 days), and without radicular symptoms below the knees, to PT or usual care. PT (started within 3 days of enrollment) consisted of four sessions during 3 weeks emphasizing spinal range-of-motion exercises, core strengthening, and home exercises. Both groups were encouraged to exerc…

Reviewing Author

Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

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Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

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No Clinical Benefit for Early Physical Therapy in Recent-Onset Low Back Pain

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Reviewing Author