Evidence-Informed Best Practices for Injured Workers at Risk for Disability at the Subacute Stage

The development of evidence-based clinical guidelines for musculoskeletal pain disabilities has been driven by their high prevalence in working populations and the desire to prevent the growing economic pressures arising from the costs of health care, loss of productivity and disability benefits. Low back pain is the third leading cause of disability in persons under age 45 (Meyer & Gatchel, 1988) and the focus of most studies on early identification and prevention of musculoskeletal pain disabilities.