Back Pain Chronic Back Pain Management

Question 1

Chronic low back pain is generally defined as pain lasting longer than how many weeks?

Accepted Answer

12 weeks

Answer

Chronic low back pain is conventionally defined as pain persisting for 12 weeks (3 months) or longer.

Question 2

Central sensitization in chronic back pain refers to which pathophysiological process?

Accepted Answer

Amplification of neural signaling in the CNS leading to heightened pain perception

Answer

Central sensitization involves neuroplastic changes in the central nervous system that amplify pain signals beyond normal tissue damage.

Question 3

The Fear-Avoidance Model of chronic back pain suggests that which behavior perpetuates disability?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding movement due to fear of re-injury

Answer

Fear-avoidance behaviors — avoiding physical activity for fear of causing harm — lead to deconditioning and increased disability.

Question 4

Which interdisciplinary program is most effective for patients with chronic back pain and significant psychosocial disability?

Accepted Answer

Interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program (IPRP)

Answer

IPRPs combine physical, psychological, and occupational interventions and have the best outcomes for chronic pain with psychosocial involvement.

Question 5

Which validated questionnaire measures disability related to low back pain in clinical and research settings?

Accepted Answer

Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)

Answer

The Oswestry Disability Index measures functional impairment across 10 domains in patients with low back pain.

Back Pain Practice Test