After completing this module, you should be more aware of:

• The global significance of low back pain as the leading cause of years lived with disability (YLD);
• The prevalence of back and neck pain in the UK and the health and economic burden associated with this;
• Common causes of non-specific low back pain;
• Significant back and spine conditions specifically linked to back and neck pain;
• Sciatica and significant spinal conditions which share similar symptoms;
• Red flag and referral symptoms for cauda equina syndrome, spinal fracture, cancers and infection;
• Signs and symptoms with neck pain that need further investigation;
• The need to help patients understand the nature of low back pain;
• Three core tips from the Make Every Contact Count (MECC) advice for back pain;
• Non-drug approaches to managing non-specific low back pain, with and without sciatica;
• Pharmacological management of non-specific low back pain, with NSAIDs the first line option;
• Management of sciatica including use of treatments for neuropathic pain;
• Management of neck pain.