Too many people with back pain call ambulances or visit the ED. Here’s why that’s a problem
- Written by Simon Vella, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney

Around 4 million Australians experience back problems and people are increasingly calling ambulances and presenting to emergency departments to manage back pain.
Yet most of these cases of back pain don’t require emergency care. Back pain is a symptom rather than a disease. When symptoms last more than 12 weeks it...