Low back pain

Also called: lower back pain

Pain between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the legs, with or without pain down a leg. Most episodes improve, and staying active is central to recovery.

Where the evidence stands

1 clinical practice guideline — start there.
6 recent reviews (systematic reviews and meta-analyses) and 0 recent randomized trials shown below.
Most recent publication here: Oct 1, 2026.

Outcome measures clinicians use to track progress: Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS).

Clinical practice guideline

CPGJournal of Orthopaedic & Sports PT · Nov 1, 2021
Interventions for the Management of Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Revision 2021 ↗
AOPT's 2021 update to its low back pain guideline, adding recommendations on interventions not covered in the 2012 version, including dry needling, cognitive functional therapy, and pain neuroscience education.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Studies of studies — each pools the results of many trials.

SRMusculoskeletal science & practice · Oct 1, 2026
Do adherence-focused interventions in low back pain have an impact on rehabilitation outcomes? A systematic review with meta-analysis
SRThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews · Sep 2, 2026
Assistive technologies (lumbar supports and other devices) for treating chronic low back pain
SRThe Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy · Sep 1, 2026
The Efficacy of Exercise Therapy for Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain According to the FITT Principle: A Systematic Review With Meta-analyses
SRMedical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · Aug 12, 2026
Exercise-Based Interventions for the Management of Low Back Pain in Adolescents in School Settings: A Systematic Review
SRJournal of medical Internet research · Aug 10, 2026
Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation for Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
SRFrontiers in neurology · Jan 1, 2026
Efficacy of transcranial electrical stimulation in the treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Recent randomized trials

Newest first. Single trials are building blocks; weigh them against the reviews.

We couldn’t load trials from PubMed just now. Please check back soon.

Studies without a summary yet get one the first time a Limbic member opens them, or within a few days.