Do I need an MRI or X-ray for low back pain?

Most people don’t need imaging. Physiotherapists can safely diagnose and treat 85–90% of low back pain without scans. At MEX Physio Milton, we focus on recovery through movement-based therapies unless red flags require referral. Imaging often shows changes unrelated to pain (Maher et al., 2017). Avoiding unnecessary scans helps reduce anxiety and cost.