Scientific application of sports medicine principles for acute low back problems. The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research Low Back Guideline Panel (AHCPR, Guideline #14)

The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research Low Back Guideline Panel (AHCPR, Guideline #14) truly brought to life sports medicine principles in the care of the most common and expensive musculoskeletal problem by focusing on the basic activity paradigm of musculoskeletal limitations. Twenty-three experts and seven international consultants led a review of over 10,000 abstracts and evaluation of over 4,600 articles. This effort was to establish scientifically how any clinician can: 1) safely be sure that the patient only has a back problem, 2) offer safe options for comfort, and 3) concentrate on the real treatment for an activity intolerance with sports medicine principles: activity, not rest, begets activity tolerance. Evidence tables and their subsequent derivation as "Finding and Recommendation Statements" provide an understanding of what medical science can and cannot presently support as predictable.