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Abstract
Low back pain is a common condition which, although largely self-limiting, is responsible for large personal, societal and financial burdens. A multitude of best practice guidelines now exist for the management of patients with low back pain, with largely consistent messages. Although some guideline recommendations appear to have translated relatively well into clinical practice, studies have identified a relatively poor uptake for other key recommendations. The clear message from published literature is that the mere production and dissemination of guidelines for the management of low back pain does not translate into clear shifts in clinical practice in line with best practice. There are numerous potential obstacles to healthcare practitioners adopting best practice recommendations and these can be categorised in various ways. The attitudes and beliefs that a healthcare practitioner holds can be either obstacles or facilitators to the adoption of best practice recommendations. Individual practitioners should be aware that their attitudes and beliefs can influence their use of best practice guidelines and thus, ultimately, patients' outcomes.