Back Pain Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Back Pain facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which sleep position is generally recommended for individuals with low back pain? → Supine with a pillow under the knees
2. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for chronic back pain works primarily through which mechanism? → Delivery of electrical impulses that modulate pain signal processing in the dorsal horn
3. Which questionnaire specifically screens for psychosocial 'yellow flags' in back pain patients? → STarT Back Screening Tool
4. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is typically considered for which back pain patient population? → Failed back surgery syndrome with chronic neuropathic pain
5. Acupuncture for back pain is thought to work through which primary mechanism? → Anti-inflammatory cytokine release and endogenous opioid activation
6. The 'bird-dog' exercise in back pain rehabilitation primarily targets which functional goal? → Contralateral limb stabilization and core control
7. Which NSAID is most commonly recommended for back pain due to its favorable GI safety profile when used with a proton pump inhibitor? → Celecoxib (COX-2 inhibitor)
8. The nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc is primarily composed of which substance? → Proteoglycans and water
9. Which finding on history should raise suspicion for inflammatory back pain (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis) rather than mechanical back pain? → Morning stiffness lasting more than 1 hour and improvement with exercise
10. What is the recommended first-line treatment for acute non-specific low back pain according to US clinical guidelines? → Staying active and non-pharmacological care
11. Which imaging modality is the gold standard for diagnosing lumbar disc herniation and nerve root compression? → MRI
12. What is the recommended approach for back pain management during pregnancy? → Prenatal yoga, aquatic exercise, and physical therapy
13. What is the minimum duration required to classify back pain as 'chronic'? → 3 months
14. Which risk factor is most strongly associated with occupational low back pain in the US workforce? → Whole-body vibration and heavy manual lifting
15. Which physical therapy modality uses electrical stimulation to reduce back pain and muscle spasm? → TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)
16. Which spinal region is most commonly affected by back pain in the US adult population? → Lumbar
17. Which nerve roots form the sciatic nerve that can be compressed in lumbar disc herniation? → L4–S3
18. During which phase of back pain rehabilitation are passive modalities (heat, ice, TENS) most appropriately emphasized? → Acute phase (0-3 weeks)
19. Which spinal curve is a normal anterior (forward) curve found in the lumbar spine? → Lordosis
20. Which yoga style has the strongest evidence for reducing chronic low back pain? → Iyengar yoga
21. The Patrick (FABER) test is used to assess pain arising from which structure? → Hip joint or sacroiliac joint
22. A positive straight leg raise (SLR) test at less than 60° is most suggestive of which condition? → Lumbar nerve root compression
23. What is the most likely source of pain on the left side of the genitalia when side-flexing to the right? → An iliolumbar ligament sprain
24. Pain that worsens with prolonged standing and improves with sitting or forward flexion is characteristic of which condition? → Lumbar spinal stenosis
25. The multifidus muscle is important for back health because it provides which type of support? → Segmental spinal stabilization
26. What back motion is the weakest? → Bending forward fully
27. Which medication class carries the highest risk of physical dependence when used long-term for chronic back pain? → Opioids
28. Which exercise is commonly recommended as a first-line treatment for non-specific low back pain? → Aerobic walking
29. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for back pain targets which structure to interrupt pain signals? → Medial branch nerves supplying facet joints
30. A Functional Restoration Program (FRP) for chronic back pain differs from standard physical therapy by emphasizing: → Multiplanar functional movement patterns and psychosocial components