Diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in patients with low back pain.

Patients with chronic low back pain can present a treatment dilemma for the family physician. Low back pain is one of the most common symptoms bringing patients to physicians. Despite its high prevalence, low back pain is often difficult to treat. In most patients, the pain cannot be pinpointed at a specific anatomic lesion, and plain radiographs, computed tomographic scans and magnetic resonance imaging studies are not useful. While most people with low back pain improve regardless of the type of intervention, some evidence shows that McKenzie exercises, manipulation and injection therapy are helpful for patients who do not recover spontaneously.