Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1980 Mar-Apr;5(2):117-25.
doi: 10.1097/00007632-198003000-00005.

Nonorganic physical signs in low-back pain

G Waddell, J A McCulloch, E Kummel, R M Venner

Nonorganic physical signs in low-back pain

G Waddell et al. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1980 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Nonorganic physical signs in low-back pain are described and standardized in 350 North American and British patients. These nonorganic signs are distinguishable from the standard clinical signs of physical pathology and correlate with other psychological data. By helping to separate the physical from the nonorganic they clarify the assessment of purely physical pathologic conditions. It is suggested also that the nonorganic signs can be used as a simple clinical screen to help identify patients who require more detailed psychological assessment.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

  • Waddell's signs revisited?
    Centeno CJ, Elkins WL, Freeman M. Centeno CJ, et al. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2004 Jul 1;29(13):1392; discussion 1393. doi: 10.1097/01.brs.0000128771.48789.fb. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2004. PMID: 15223927 No abstract available.