Are Signs of Central Sensitization in Acute Low Back Pain a Precursor to Poor Outcome?

•Central sensitization presents in some but not all individuals with acute back pain.•Presence of central sensitization early does not necessarily precede poor outcome.•Early sensitization precedes poor outcome when combined with psychological factors. Central sensitization is considered to have a pathophysiological role in chronic low back pain (LBP). Whether individuals with increased central sensitization early in their condition are more likely to develop persistent pain or whether it increases over time is unclear. This study aimed to determine whether sensory profiles during acute LBP differ between individuals who did and did not recover by 6 months and to identify subgroups associated with outcomes. Individuals with acute LBP (