Low Back Pain Pathway

Talk with your healthcare provider about a referral

Depending on how long you have had low back pain, how it is affecting your life, and how home management is going, your healthcare provider may refer you for other treatment:

physiotherapy with a community-based or home rehabilitation program
multidisciplinary chronic pain program
spine or sports medicine specialist

If you need specialist care, spinal injections, or surgery, you may get a referral to a spine surgeon or sports medicine doctor.

Your specialist will meet with you to talk about your health condition and look at your test results. The specialist may diagnose your condition, order more tests, and talk to you about other treatment and management options.

Low back pain pathway map

Low Back Pain Pathway

Download or print the full patient pathway (PDF) and summary (one-page PDF) to learn more about how to manage and treat low back pain.
Patient Pathway Summary

Current as of: March 19, 2024

Author: Provincial Pathways Unit, Alberta Health Services

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This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. This material is intended for general information only and is provided on an "as is", "where is" basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information. Alberta Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such use.

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