Effect of Physiotherapy in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Nonspecific Lower Back Pain

Effect of Physiotherapy in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Nonspecific Lower Back Pain. A Brief Intervention Focusing on Patient Reported Outcomes

Physiotherapy is a long established therapy in lower back pain. It is unknown if physiotherapeutic interventions in patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with nonspecific lower back pain are beneficial. The aim of this study is to assess whether patients presenting to the emergency department with non-specific low risk low back pain would benefit from a physiotherapy intervention, as compared to patients without physiotherapy intervention at time of ED presentation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Written informed consent
• Experiencing nonspecific lower back pain
• Presentation to the Emergency Department (ED) of the University Hospital Basel

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inpatient disposition after ED work-up

• "Red Flags" at time of ED-presentation:

  1. Major trauma in all patients
  2. Fractures leading to immobilization
  3. Severe or progressive sensory alteration or weakness
  4. Bladder or bowel dysfunction
  5. Evidence of neurological deficit on physical examination
  6. Severe chronic disease, such as metastasized cancer, palliative care

• Epidural steroid injections in the last 3 months

• Inability or contraindications to undergo the investigated intervention or to follow the study procedures, e.g. due to certain neurological disorders, language problems, psychological disorders, cognitive impairment, physical inability etc.

• Prior enrolment in this trial