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. A construction worker lifts a heavy box by bending at the waist with straight legs and feels sudden low back pain. Which lifting error most contributed? → Flexing the spine instead of the hips and knees
2. Which sleep position is generally recommended for individuals with low back pain? → Supine with a pillow under the knees
3. A patient with back pain from a suspected kidney infection (pyelonephritis) would most likely show which vital sign pattern? → Fever with tachycardia
4. 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
5. Which questionnaire specifically screens for psychosocial 'yellow flags' in back pain patients? → STarT Back Screening Tool
6. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is typically considered for which back pain patient population? → Failed back surgery syndrome with chronic neuropathic pain
7. In a patient with back pain, unexplained weight loss, night pain, and a history of breast cancer should raise suspicion for which cause? → Spinal metastasis
8. Acupuncture for back pain is thought to work through which primary mechanism? → Anti-inflammatory cytokine release and endogenous opioid activation
9. Weakness in great toe extension during a back pain exam most suggests involvement of which nerve root? → L5
10. The 'bird-dog' exercise in back pain rehabilitation primarily targets which functional goal? → Contralateral limb stabilization and core control
11. 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)
12. Loss of the Achilles (ankle) reflex during examination most suggests compression of which nerve root? → S1
13. The nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc is primarily composed of which substance? → Proteoglycans and water
14. 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
15. What is the term for a forward slippage of one vertebra over the one below it? → Spondylolisthesis
16. 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
17. A patient with a history of cancer develops new, progressive back pain that is worse at night. What should be the primary concern? → Spinal metastasis
18. Which imaging modality is the gold standard for diagnosing lumbar disc herniation and nerve root compression? → MRI
19. What is the recommended approach for back pain management during pregnancy? → Prenatal yoga, aquatic exercise, and physical therapy
20. What is the minimum duration required to classify back pain as 'chronic'? → 3 months
21. Cauda equina syndrome is characterized by which classic triad of findings? → Saddle anesthesia, bladder dysfunction, and bilateral leg weakness
22. Which risk factor is most strongly associated with occupational low back pain in the US workforce? → Whole-body vibration and heavy manual lifting
23. Which physical therapy modality uses electrical stimulation to reduce back pain and muscle spasm? → TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)
24. Which spinal region is most commonly affected by back pain in the US adult population? → Lumbar
25. Spondylolisthesis refers to which spinal abnormality? → Forward slippage of one vertebra over another
26. Which nerve roots form the sciatic nerve that can be compressed in lumbar disc herniation? → L4–S3
27. During which phase of back pain rehabilitation are passive modalities (heat, ice, TENS) most appropriately emphasized? → Acute phase (0-3 weeks)
28. Which spinal curve is a normal anterior (forward) curve found in the lumbar spine? → Lordosis
29. Which yoga style has the strongest evidence for reducing chronic low back pain? → Iyengar yoga
30. The Patrick (FABER) test is used to assess pain arising from which structure? → Hip joint or sacroiliac joint