Keys to a back pain history.

Approximately 1 in 6 Australians suffer from back pain every year. Thus, for a Personal Trainer Sydney CBD it is imperative to be able to take an accurate and detailed history of a patients back pain.

While it may not be possible to define a precise cause of low back symptoms for most patients, it is important to evaluate for evidence of specific etiologies of back pain. The history should include location, duration, and severity of the pain, details of any prior back pain, and how current symptoms compare with any previous back pain.

We should also ask about constitutional symptoms (eg, unintentional weight loss or night sweats), history of malignancy, precipitants or precipitating events, therapies attempted, neurologic symptoms (eg, weakness, falls or gait instability, numbness or other sensory changes, or bowel/bladder symptoms), stability or progression of symptoms, history of recent bacterial infections (particularly bacteremia), recent history or current use of injection drugs, history or current use of corticosteroid medications, and recent history of procedures in the back.
Patients should also be evaluated for social or psychologic distress that may be contributing. Potentially useful items are a history of failed previous treatments, substance abuse, and disability compensation. Screening for depression may be helpful. 


Though less common, features that may suggest underlying systemic disease include history of cancer, age >50 years, unexplained weight loss, duration of pain >1 month, night time pain, and unresponsiveness to previous therapies. Injection drug use, recent bacterial infection (particularly bacteremia), or fever increase the suspicion of spinal infection.

If you've got back pain, get in touch today!