Low back pain (LBP) is defined as, pain, muscle tension, or stiffness occurring in the region between the
lower costal margin and the inferior gluteal folds. It is classified as chronic when it persists for 12 weeks or
more. The aetiology is complex and incompletely understood which makes reaching an accurate diagnosis
a challenge. LBP is an extremely common condition. 70% of people in the developed world will have at least
one episode in their lifetime and the population prevalence is 23.3%. As one might expect the prevalence
rises with age, with individuals over 50 being three to four times more affected than those aged 18 to 30.
