Acute lower back pain can occur with a wide variety of minor injuries and conditions, is usually benign and does not require imaging studies such as x-ray, MRI or CT scans for diagnosis. While most patients return to their usual activities in a month, a small percentage will need to be further evaluated to rule out more serious health problems.

According to the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), 25-50 percent of American adults will experience some low back pain each year, making it one of the most common reasons patients seek healthcare services.

Please only consider imaging studies for lower back pain if red flags are present or if there is no improvement after four weeks.

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