Thematic series – Low back pain

Low back pain is the world’s most disabling condition, involving all populations and crossing all boundaries [1, 2]. Such pain leads to tremendous socioeconomic and health-care consequences. In the United States alone, the direct and indirect costs associated with low back pain surpass 90 billion USD per year, with similar adjusted rates in different countries [3]. Low back pain is the second condition following the common cold that motivates individuals to seek medical consultation, and is the top debilitating condition in individuals over the age of 45 [4–7]. Such a condition can lead to diminished quality of life, decreased activity, loss of wages, and psychological distress [4–7]. In fact, chronic low back pain may even age the brain faster and destroy critical brain tissue in comparison to asymptomatic individuals [8].