NOW UPDATED: Ontario Health’s Low Back Pain: Care for Adults with Acute Low Back Pain quality standard (originally
released in 2019) addresses care for adults aged 16 years and older with acute
low back pain, or who have recurrent episodes of acute low back pain that last
less than 12 weeks. The quality standard focuses on the assessment of acute low
back pain with or without leg symptoms, assessment of risk factors to prevent
chronic low back pain, and management (including pharmacological and additional
nonpharmacological interventions) of acute low back pain with or without leg
symptoms, as well as physical activity, education, self-management, and
psychosocial support for people with acute low back pain.
This update aligns the quality standard with the most recent
clinical evidence and with current practice in Ontario. You may refer to pages 6
and 7 of the
Low Back Pain quality standard for a summary of updates.
Low back pain is defined as pain localized between the 12th
rib and the inferior gluteal folds. Most cases of acute low back pain are
“mechanical” or nonspecific, and are characterized by tension, soreness, or
stiffness in the low back area. Worldwide, low back pain causes more
disability, activity limitation, and work absenteeism than any other condition.
An estimated 75% to 85% of adults aged 18 and older will experience at least 1
episode of acute low back pain in their life. The quality standard includes 7
quality statements that address areas that have high potential for improving
the quality of care in Ontario for adults with low back pain. Below are
some tools that may help you to put the quality statements into practice. Many
of these tools will help to support multiple quality statements and are
therefore grouped by general themes.
Are there other tools or resources you use? Do you have
experience implementing these tools? If you have feedback about any of these
tools, please use the comments section below to share!
Comprehensive Resources Related to the Low Back Pain Quality Standard
Educational Resources for Clinicians
- Spine Online Course: An online course for primary care
providers developed by the Centre for Effective Practice that offers
evidence-based assessment and treatment options for low back or neck pain
Tools and Resources to Support People With Low Back Pain,
Their Families, and Their Care Partners
- Quality Standard Patient Guide: A resource from Ontario
Health written in plain language for people with low back pain, their families,
and their care partners to better understand and manage their condition
- Back Care Canada: A web-based resource developed by health care
professionals to support people with back pain
- Doc Mike Evans Low Back Pain: A visually guided low back
pain self-management video for patients
- Imaging Tests for Lower Back Pain: A patient pamphlet by
Choosing Wisely Canada that provides information on appropriate use of imaging
tests
Access to Local Programs and Supports
Other Resources
Ontario Health has developed other quality standards and
patient guides on mental health and addictions and chronic conditions that may
be useful, including:
See Chronic Pain, Osteoarthritis, and Low Back Pain QualityStandards: Tools for Implementation for additional related tools and
resources.