Episode 14: Low back pain fact 4 with patient voice, Joe. 'Scans rarely show the cause of pain'

How relevant are scans (MRI, CT, X-RAY etc) for low back pain? Imaging is commonplace these days, but is it actually doing more harm than good?
This week, patient voice Joe joins clinician-researchers Professor Peter O’Sullivan and Kevin Wernli as they discuss the evidence around imaging for low back pain. As well as the negative emotional and physical impact Joe's scan had on him - a common story among many with low back pain. The show-notes (www.bodylogic.physio/podcast) for this page share 3 imaging infographics, as well as links to all the references discussed in this episode.
Take homes were:
- Imaging is important, but only for ~5-10% with back pain
- Imaging findings are common in people without pain, and don’t predict future pain or function
- MRI reports don’t appear to be that consistent between MRI centres
- Routine imaging is not associated with better outcomes, and is in fact often harmful, not to mention costly.
Twitter handles @EBPPodcast @PeteOSullivanPT @JPCaneiro @KWernliPhysio
*Peter O’Sullivan and JP Caneiro were awarded specialisation by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2005 and 2013 respectively. Theme music by Fervun and Cash. Produced by Kevin Wernli