Column Is it True That 80% of Low Back Pain Cases Have No Identifiable Cause? 🤔

Of the importance of seeing a specialist.

・A careful evaluation by a specialist of the spine can reveal the underlying cause of your condition in the majority of cases.

The widespread belief that the cause of low back pain is not identifiable in the majority of the patients stemmed from a 2001 report by an American general practitioner stating that “accurate pathoanatomical diagnosis is not possible in approximately 85% of low back pain patients.”

However, because the author was not a spine specialist, and due to issues regarding their diagnostic methodology, the credibility of the report has long been debated.

A more recent study conducted by the Orthopedic Surgery team at Yamaguchi University in 2016 re-evaluated this premise. They found that among 320 patients examined by spine specialists, 78% (250 patients) were diagnosed with specific low back pain, meaning their cause could be identified.

The key takeaway is that receiving a careful diagnosis from a specialist is essential. Identifying the cause in turn allows for appropriate and effective intervention, leading to better treatment outcomes.

ILC International Low Back Pain Clinic Tokyo

Written by Dr. Tadaaki Minowa, Administrative Clinic Director of ILC Clinic Tokyo