BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The economic burden of low back pain (LBP) is very large and
appears to be growing. It is not possible to impact this burden without understanding the
strengths and weaknesses of the research on which these costs are calculated. PURPOSE:
To conduct a systematic review of LBP cost of illness studies in the United States and
internationally. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Systematic review of the literature. METHODS:
Medline was searched to uncover studies about the direct or indirect costs of LBP published …