Treatment options for low back pain: the importance of patient education

Low back pain is the most common musculoskeletal problem worldwide. According to researches, it affected 619 million people globally in 2020. It is responsible for a large percentage of absences from the workplace and visits to the doctor. Since 1990, the number of years spent on disability due to low back pain has increased by more than 50%, largely due to the aging and growth of the population worldwide. The greatest increase can be seen in low- and middle-income countries, where adequate resources are not necessarily available to deal with the problem. Low back pain is now the leading cause of disability worldwide. In acute treatment, it is important to distinguish between specific and non-specific low back pain. Its general prognosis is good, but its prevalence is high, which makes it a significant public health problem. Preventing it from becoming chronic is extremely important. The aim of its treatment is to reduce pain, maintain physical activity and restore working capacity as soon as possible. There is often a wide gap between therapeutic methods based on available evidence and clinical practice. Recommendations include self-management, programs that include education and exercise to support the resumption of everyday activities, and psychological counseling. Treatment methods that include an exercise program and patient education are the most effective in the treatment of chronic low back pain.