Only 20 per cent of back pain sufferers are advised to follow the best care for acute lower back pain, with many prescribed unnecessary complex medicines such as ibuprofen, research has found.
Conducted by The George Institute, the research reveals that back pain treatments do not align with recommendations in international evidence-based guidelines, which advise to stay active, avoid bed rest and take simple analgesics such as paracetamol.
Study author Professor Chris Maher, director of musculoskeletal research at The George Institute, said while the national guidelines discouraged the use of imaging, more than one-quarter of the 3,533 assessed patients were referred to imaging.
"Most patients did not receive the recommended advice even though this is inexpensive and universally recommended for all patients. The challenge is how we change practice so that it aligns with the evidence," he said.
Acute low back pain, which is primarily managed by GPs, physiotherapists and chiropractors, is the most prevalent and costly musculoskeletal condition in Australia, estimated to cost up to $1 billion per annum.
But while paracetamol is endorsed due to its safety and cost-effectiveness, the drug's true efficacy for a new episode of low back pain is unclear, leading to new research on the effects of paracetamol among 1,650 patients from GP practices in Sydney.
"If the findings demonstrate that a regular course of paracetamol is effective in speeding recovery, the cost-savings to individual patients and to our healthcare system will be very significant, especially for the four million people with back pain in Australia," added Professor Maher.