A conversation between a Sports and Exercise Medicine Consultant and an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner, focusing specifically on back pain.

• Jen Albarak, an advanced physiotherapy practitioner, discusses the management of back pain from the perspective of a specialist clinician.

• For the general population, she emphasizes the importance of movement and regular exercise to prevent and manage mechanical back pain, which accounts for 80% of cases.

• For GPs, she highlights the value of a thorough clinical examination and history-taking, rather than over-relying on imaging, to guide appropriate management and referrals.

• For specialist colleagues, she discusses advanced treatment options for persistent back pain, including interventional pain management techniques like medial branch blocks and basal vertebral nerve ablation.

• She emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and continuous professional development to provide the best care for patients with back pain.