Neck and Back Pain

A review of social influences on neck and back pain and disability; psychological risk factors for back and neck pain; influences of individual factors and smoking on neck and low back pain; work-related influences on neck and low back pain; preventive interventions for neck and back pain; neurophysiology of back pain. Current knowledge; epidemiology of neck and low back pain; assessment of patients with neck and back pain. A best evidence synthesis; introduction to treatment of neck and back pain; conservative treatment of acute and subacute low back pain; conservative treatment of chronic low back pain; surgical treatment of lumbar disc prolapse and degenerative lumbar disc disease; acute and subacute neck pain - non-surgical treatment; non-surgical treatment of chronic neck pain; surgical treatment of neck pain; the utility of cognitive-behavioral psychological treatments; approaching patients with low back pain in primary health care; cost-effectiveness of treatment for neck and low back pain; cost of back pain in some OECD countries; a review of social security systems.