This paper reports on an empirical study of how patient resources are explicitly utilized in intervention. A qualitative analysis of five videorecorded and observed first encounters between patients with nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) and physiotherapists in primary care was conducted in southern Sweden. The analysis focuses on physiotherapists’ various ways of explicitly utilizing patient resources in intervention. The findings illuminate a gap between the number of occurring patient resources and the explicit utilization of these resources in intervention. Resources like objects, condition, personal characteristics and energies were identified and followed during the first encounter with physiotherapists. These resources were checked by the therapists or initiated by the patients. Resources concerning personal characteristics (such as optimism and motivation) and energies (such as experience-based knowledge) seem to be the underutilized. The findings raise questions about professional challenges beyond professional skill, indicating a need for clinical improvement regarding interaction, with potential implication for back pain recovery. The findings are discussed in relation to patient participation and professional ethics.