APTEI: A Radically New Approach to Low Back Pain

Overview: 

Lower back pain is the leading global cause of disability, and its direct and indirect costs are rising sharply (e.g. costs up to three times those of cancer). Current clinical guidelines recommend six core strategies for non‑specific LBP management:

1. Rule out serious spinal pathology (red flags, neural signs)

2. Encourage early activity return

3. Promote patient self-management

4. Discourage routine imaging

5. Advocate physical exercise

6. Address psychosocial risk factors

This course challenges whether this “six‑step” model is enough. Instead, it offers a radically new, evidence-informed, movement-based approach to treating and preventing acute, sub‑acute, and persistent low back pain.

“…the total financial cost of back pain is about three times greater than the total cost of all forms of cancer diseases…” (Egdon Jonsson in Nachemson 2000)

A systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study concludes that lower back pain (LBP) is the leading global cause of disability in most countries and the incidence is increasing (GBD in Lancet 2016).

Ironically the costs of care and interventions for management of LBP are increasing (Dieleman et al 2016).

What is going on????

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Summarize and critique the six core recommendations found in current Clinical Practice Guidelines for non-specific low back pain

• Identify limitations in the evidence underlying these guidelines and potential nocebo consequences from common clinical messaging

• Analyze biopsychosocial risk factors influencing recovery and their impact on outcomes

• Apply advanced clinical reasoning to tailor interventions based on each patient’s unique presentation

• Design a movement- and self-led prevention strategy to reduce risk of chronicity

• Implement a novel, patient-centered approach that goes beyond pain suppression toward functional restoration and independence

These objectives build on—and transcend—the guideline foundation, offering a more nuanced and functional model for clinicians.

Audience:

This online course is suitable for physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, kinesiologists, pain educators, and other healthcare providers committed to current, evidence-based, holistic approaches to low back pain care. Ideal for clinicians interested in shifting from reactive pain control to proactive recovery and long-term prevention.