A medical doctor will assess your back by testing your ability to stand, lift your legs, sit, or walk. The doctor may request to rate the extent of your pain using a scale of 0% - 100% and also engage you in a conversation to know how you are coping up with the pain.
Through this assessment, the doctor will know where the pain originates, how far you have been affected, and whether you have muscle spasms. Knowing the cause of your back pain may also come from this assessment hence ruling out more serious causes. Visit this link for more information.
Tests a doctor can do during the diagnosis
X-ray. Images from x-ray will show the alignment of your bones, check arthritis condition and also display whether you have broken bones.
Blood tests. This test will help in knowing you have an infection or any other condition that may be resulting in pain.
MRI or CT scans. Taking through a CT scan will show problems associated with muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, tissue, nerves, and blood vessels.
Nerve studies. Electromyography (EMG) measures how nerves produce electrical impulses and their response. The test will show the compression caused by herniated disks and whether your spinal canal is narrowed. Read about Causes of back pain here.