November 2011 PMID 21642763

Appropriate use of diagnostic imaging in low back pain: a reminder that unnecessary imaging may do as much harm as good.

Timothy W Flynn, Britt Smith, Roger Chou

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Mentions

39
Peak: 27 in Nov 2022
across 3 sources since Aug 2020

Extended reach

158,098
potential audience

Total likes

107

Video views

881

Mentions per month

Aug 2020 – Jun 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter35 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • News2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions demonstrate a shared concern about the overuse of diagnostic imaging, referencing studies and statistics such as 36% of MRI scans being inappropriate in older adults, and emphasizing the harms of unnecessary procedures. The tone is informative and professional, with some users sharing personal experiences or clinical insights, which highlights active engagement and appreciation for evidence-based practices.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support the article's emphasis on reducing unnecessary imaging due to potential harm, as evidenced by tweets highlighting harms and guidelines that discourage overuse.

InterestModerate interest

Participants show moderate interest, discussing clinical implications, prevalence data, and guidelines, which indicate engagement with the topic without overwhelming detail.

EngagementModerate engagement

There is a respectful, thoughtful engagement with the subject, including references to studies, patient impacts, and professional roles, suggesting active reflection.

ImpactModerate impact

Comments reflect a recognition of the importance of guideline adherence and understanding of the consequences of over-imaging, indicating moderate to high perceived impact.

Abstract in brief

  • The article highlights that the overuse of lumbar spine MRI in the U.S. does not improve patient outcomes and may lead to increased surgeries, higher healthcare costs, and negative psychological effects such as fear and catastrophizing.
  • It emphasizes the importance of adhering to recent guidelines for appropriate imaging, which can help prevent unnecessary procedures, reduce patient harm, and support better health perceptions among patients.
  • The article also offers physical therapists clear guidelines to educate patients about when imaging is necessary and how to counteract negative perceptions caused by unnecessary imaging, along with an example of a successful clinical pathway that minimized imaging and enhanced patient outcomes.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
ɹǝʇlnoԀ pıʌɐᗡ
@Retlouping · X

Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good https://t.co/Zq1QU51Xbu https://t.co/3OWrLpurZ5

Nov 11, 2022 · 63 likes · 26 shares · 26,409 followers View post →
Dinçer Cüre, PT, DPT
@DincerCure · X

Ben her zaman anlatmaya çalışıyorum, mR'da fıtığı olup normal yaşam süren insanların olduğunu. Aşağıdaki makale de, gereksiz mR'ların hastalara yarardan çok zarar verdiğinden yakınıyor. Siz de okuyun. https://t.co/nAnsW3Cl4O +++ https://t.co/A8eK3nR7rg

Mar 4, 2022 · 6 likes · 1 share · 3,591 followers View post →
ɹǝʇlnoԀ pıʌɐᗡ
@Retlouping · X

@DrJN_SportsMed @BillingMartin And Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good https://t.co/Kq325QILSP https://t.co/aDFPd2joAv

Mar 3, 2021 · 2 likes · 26,409 followers View post →
Choosing Wisely Brasil
@ChooseWiselyBR · X

Nos EUA, uma avaliação publicada em 2013 (https://t.co/IcplwCXgEp) classificou apenas 443 de 1000 RNM's da coluna lombar como apropriadas. Em https://t.co/EE0JVPRe5V, discutem consequências negativas não intencionais.

Sep 1, 2022 · 1 like · 3,901 followers View post →
Duke DPT HOD5
@DukeHOD5 · X

@RyanDuncanPT @KyleCovPT This is further discussed by Flynn and colleagues (2011). https://t.co/CczJnmDFl9

Apr 30, 2022 · 1 like · 69 followers View post →
Peter O'Sullivan
@PeteOSullivanPT · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 57,378 followers View post →

All mentions

Marcela antunez
@marcelantunez · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 13, 2022 · 26 shares · 70 followers View post →
RafithePainPT
@RafithePainPT · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 13, 2022 · 26 shares · 13 followers View post →
Roberto Lacchio
@RLacchio · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 20 followers View post →
Joaquín
@ArcticJoaquin · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 15 followers View post →
Sarah Bond
@BondSaradunc · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 94 followers View post →
ivanpinzon
@ivanpin81236291 · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 58 followers View post →
Phil Macdonald
@PhilMphysio · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 9 followers View post →
FREDERICO CALAÇA
@CalacaFR · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 44 followers View post →
Daniel
@danielhemi4 · X

https://t.co/xvCw7jHTBE

Nov 12, 2022 · 7 followers View post →
Umar Tijjani, BPT
@88umarfaruk · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 512 followers View post →
Ferré Sauvage Antoine
@SauvageFerre · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 73 followers View post →
Jesús Joel L.S.
@JJLosan · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 38 followers View post →
Murray J. McAllister
@MJMcAllister4 · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 182 followers View post →
João Lucas Cardoso
@joaolfcadoso · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 65 followers View post →
Abdillah Simba Mdou
@MdouSimba · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 163 followers View post →
Ammar Suhail, PT
@suhailphysio89 · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 671 followers View post →
Christine Bohonko
@daisymay2max · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 535 followers View post →
Daniel
@danielhemi4 · X

https://t.co/xvCw7jHTBE

Nov 12, 2022 · 7 followers View post →
Alan J Taylor
@TaylorAlanJ · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 7,341 followers View post →
Ina Diener
@InaDiener · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 896 followers View post →
Tiffany Gill
@tiff_gill14 · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 214 followers View post →
Skerries Pain&Injury
@Skpainandinjury · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 225 followers View post →
Peter O'Sullivan
@PeteOSullivanPT · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 57,378 followers View post →
Venus Dokchan
@Venus_Faah · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 12, 2022 · 26 shares · 22 followers View post →
BW, SPT
@Wish24SPT · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 11, 2022 · 26 shares · 10 followers View post →
H. W. P.
@Hong_Physio · X

RT @Retlouping: Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good ht…

Nov 11, 2022 · 26 shares · 101 followers View post →
ɹǝʇlnoԀ pıʌɐᗡ
@Retlouping · X

Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good https://t.co/Zq1QU51Xbu https://t.co/3OWrLpurZ5

Nov 11, 2022 · 63 likes · 26 shares · 26,409 followers View post →
Choosing Wisely Brasil
@ChooseWiselyBR · X

Nos EUA, uma avaliação publicada em 2013 (https://t.co/IcplwCXgEp) classificou apenas 443 de 1000 RNM's da coluna lombar como apropriadas. Em https://t.co/EE0JVPRe5V, discutem consequências negativas não intencionais.

Sep 1, 2022 · 1 like · 3,901 followers View post →
Duke DPT HOD5
@DukeHOD5 · X

@RyanDuncanPT @KyleCovPT This is further discussed by Flynn and colleagues (2011). https://t.co/CczJnmDFl9

Apr 30, 2022 · 1 like · 69 followers View post →
taha
@Comeagra · X

RT @DincerCure: Ben her zaman anlatmaya çalışıyorum, mR'da fıtığı olup normal yaşam süren insanların olduğunu. Aşağıdaki makale de, gereksi…

Mar 4, 2022 · 1 share · 251 followers View post →
Dinçer Cüre, PT, DPT
@DincerCure · X

Ben her zaman anlatmaya çalışıyorum, mR'da fıtığı olup normal yaşam süren insanların olduğunu. Aşağıdaki makale de, gereksiz mR'ların hastalara yarardan çok zarar verdiğinden yakınıyor. Siz de okuyun. https://t.co/nAnsW3Cl4O +++ https://t.co/A8eK3nR7rg

Mar 4, 2022 · 6 likes · 1 share · 3,591 followers View post →
ɹǝʇlnoԀ pıʌɐᗡ
@Retlouping · X

@DrJN_SportsMed @BillingMartin And Appropriate Use of Diagnostic Imaging in Low Back Pain: A Reminder That Unnecessary Imaging May Do as Much Harm as Good https://t.co/Kq325QILSP https://t.co/aDFPd2joAv

Mar 3, 2021 · 2 likes · 26,409 followers View post →
ɹǝʇlnoԀ pıʌɐᗡ
@Retlouping · X

@bendean1979 @OnlinePhysios @FlippinPain @ranilillanjum Or https://t.co/E5AuTEd1wB https://t.co/7usDLLUPrg

Feb 3, 2021 · 26,409 followers View post →
Deniz Ayaydin — Heal Chronic Pain
@EndThePainNow · X

Among *asymptomatic* persons 60 years or older, 36% had a herniated disc, 21% had spinal stenosis, and over 90% had a degenerated or bulging disc. https://t.co/i9d1zAjhAs

Nov 29, 2020 · 26 followers View post →
Physical Therapy at St. Luke's
@StLukesPT · X

Low back pain is one of the leading causes of missed time at work and visits to see a primary care physician. Seeing a physical therapist through direct access can help reduce the time and cost it takes to get you back to doing the things you love! https://t.co/6KpUpWFQXG https://t.co/ISBbPvQSGy

Aug 16, 2020 · 66 followers View post →
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doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.3618. 30. Cascade PN. The American College of Radiology: ACR Appropriateness Criteria project. Radiology. 2000;214 ...

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