Summary

• Patient attitudes and beliefs are predictive of outcome

• Health professionals are very influential upon patient beliefs about back pain

• Pain is equally influenced by tissue, contextual, cognitive, and emotional factors

• The physical examination can have a positive therapeutic effect

• Diagnosis is not important for informing management

• Physical activity has a lot more benefits than risks, and the psychological benefits are the most important

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