Low back pain: Can we mitigate the inadvertent psycho-behavioural harms of spinal imaging? Counterintuitively, imaging for NSLBP has frequently been found to be associated with adverse outcomes, such as detrimental effects on disability, healthcare costs and sense of wellbeing. By contrast, patients who receive high-quality information regarding their clinical presentation without imaging – and as per guideline-based recommendations – are likely to fare better. Where imaging is performed, we suggest a number of recommendations including:
- contextualisation of radiological findings within age-related norms
- use of reassuring and non-threatening language when communicating results
- educating patients on non-pathoanatomical contributors to pain.
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