Occupational low back pain

Low back injury is one of the most common conditions in the workplace. The causes are multifactorial and must be sought during the physician's examination. Failure to perform a comprehensive history and physical examination ultimately can lead to treatment failure and injury recurrence. A comprehensive history and physical may help clinicians to differentiate organic and nonorganic causes of low back pain. Different diagnoses need specific rather than generalized treatment programs. Teaching clinicians the nuances of the history and physical examination in a setting with an injured worker is the goal of this article.