9. Restore confidence

Be confident in yourself. Share confidence in the back

GPs have the right combination of skills to guide optimal acute low back pain management

The spine is a strong and resilient structure

Confidence

Factors which predict a poor outcome following an episode of acute low back pain are related to attitudes and beliefs, not anatomy or biomechanics. As a result, general practitioners are in an excellent position to help someone manage their back pain.

General practitioners

Know the person, how their back pain may affect their life, and how their life may affect their back pain

Can prescribe pain relief to make people more comfortable and facilitate their return to activity

Can prescribe work at an appropriate level to maximise the psychological, emotional, social, and physical benefits

Are very good at ruling out any potentially serious conditions which can cause back pain

The spine

As well as being confident in you, your patients can be confident in their spine. It is a strong, robust, adaptable structure. Back pain is a normal part of human existence, but it does not represent significant weakness or damage.