Is the content of social media on physiotherapy assessment and treatment for people with low back pain evidence-based?

Background: Clinicians increasingly seek professional information on social media platforms whose there is no regulation or revision before the information been published. Objective: This study aimed to characterize and qualify the content published in social media regarding the diagnosis and conservative treatment of low back pain. Methods: Three researchers collected posts from YouTubeTM, InstagramTM, and TiktokTM in Portuguese, English, and Spanish using the terms "dor lombar,” "low back pain," and "dolor lumbar.” The researchers collected 100 videos each per language and analyzed their content and quality, comparing them with recommendations from clinical guidelines for low back pain. Content analysis of the posts was conducted considering: assessment, which represented a total score of up to 6 points, and treatment, with a score of up to 9 points. The maximum score for content analysis was 15 points. Results: Overall, 115 videos were analyzed from YouTubeTM, 54 from InstagramTM, and 116 from TikTokTM. Most of the posts of YouTubeTM, InstagramTM, and TikTokTM were poor about quality of information on the assessment and treatment of low back pain. Conclusion: The dissemination of outdated or false information on social media platforms with a global reach could produce false beliefs regarding the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of techniques. Health professionals should not update themselves using social media information.