Reflections on the assessment and management of Yellow and Blue Flags in LBP patients

摘要

The subject of Gray and Howe's review1 is timely and relevant to clinical practice. The article is well-written, authoritative, and demonstrates a clear grasp of the topic. Their appraisal of the individual articles is not only illuminating both in making the case for the burgeoning interest in flags but also demonstrating wide variability across healthcare systems in the perceived role of physiotherapists and their willingness to move from a biomedical to a broader biopsycho-social approach (incorporating occupational issues). Their analysis of data with reference to psychosocial factors is collated under three main themes: (1) physiotherapists' perceptions of their role; (2) physiotherapist skills in the assessment; and (3) their skills in management. I shall address these in turn.