Ever wondered how long it takes to recover from a new episode of low back pain?

In a study by de Campos and colleagues (2023) of 366 participants, they found:

·        50% of new episodes of low back pain recovered within 5 days

·        70% of episodes recovered within 1 week

·        91% of episodes recovered within 6 weeks.

What does this mean for you?

·        Most episodes of low back pain have a good prognosis and recover rapidly.

·        Because recurrent episodes are common, your healthcare provider should equip you with the skills and confidence to self-manage future episodes.

·        It can be a good idea to try to self-manage most episodes and seek care only if it does not resolve quickly, if the episode is severe, or if you have other symptoms.

As always, consult with a trusted health professional for advice specific to you.

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References

1.        de Campos et al. (2023) (PMID: 36692107)