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. 2020 Sep 11;21(11):2661–2675. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnaa239

Table 1.

Diagnostic criteria for acute lumbosacral pain

  1. Pain is reported in the lumbosacral spine region, defined as the space between the lower posterior margin of the rib cage and the horizontal gluteal fold

  2. Pain is intermittent/recurring or constant for less than half the days in 6 months

  3. Clinical signs and symptoms that indicate that the pain pathology is related to one or more of the following musculoskeletal structures:

 

  1. Lumbar facet joints

  2. Sacroiliac joints

  3. Lumbar intervertebral discs

  4. Lumbosacral muscles

  5. Lumbosacral ligaments

  6. Lumbosacral tendons

  7. Other bony structures of the lumbar spine

 

  1. No neurologic deficits (sensory, motor, or reflexes) are present

  2. EMG/NCS will have no abnormal findings

  3. Radiographic evidence of pathology of the structures listed above may or may not be present*

EMG = electromyography; NCS = nerve conduction study.

*

While not required to meet Core Diagnostic Criteria, this may be used to support classification.