Understanding Risk Factors in Low Back Pain to Improve Self-Management

Thesis (M.Nurs.), College of Nursing, Washington State UniversityLow back pain is primarily a self-managed condition, which demands that an individual draws upon personal resources, skills, and knowledge to reduce the sensation of pain, and to compensate·for reduced mobility and difficulty completing activities-of-daily living. Low back pain may disrupt sleep and cause fatigue. Fatigue may exacerbate low back pain. Self management of low back pain is unavoidable; most episodes of back pain resolve without visits to healthcare providers. Understanding the psychosocial issues that complicate the lives of patients with low back pain is the first step to developing useful assessment tools, treatment protocols, and patient education for that population. The purpose of this paper is to use a literature review to develop an understanding of factors that inhibit the resolution ofl ow back pain, and review current research related to interventions to reduce symptoms and life disruption by improving patient self-management techniques