05/28/2026
Smart Research Review: What is Usual Care for Low Back Pain? A Systematic Review of Healthcare Provided to Patients with LBP in Family Practice
“…only approximately 1 in 5 patients visiting family practice were provided education, reassurance, and advice regarding exercise.”
“The high-quality estimates for Family Practice suggest around 1 in 4 patients are sent for lumbar imaging, about 20% recommended paracetamol, 35-40% NSAID’s, and up to 30% prescribed opioids.”
“These findings indicate that evidence-based advice was not routinely delivered to patients with LBP in primary care.”
International clinical practice guidelines for low back pain (LBP) contain consistent recommendations including universal provision of information and advice to remain active, discouraging routine referral for imaging, and limited prescription of opioids. This systematic review describes usual care....