A new study has found a free and easy method to prevent the recurrence of lower back pain in adults with a long history of suffering from this annoying pain. Researchers in spinal pain from Macquarie University in Australia conducted the first study of its kind in the world to examine how walking can help stop the recurrence of lower back pain. The team concluded that "those who walk five times a week for an average of 30 minutes daily, and received training from a physiotherapist, rid themselves of pain for nearly twice the duration it took for lower back pain to return to those who did not walk and received no treatment."
The researchers noted that regular walking also led to an improvement in the quality of life of patients, and the amount of time they had to stop working was reduced by almost half. They published the findings in The Lancet and stated that walking can have a "profound impact" on a condition affecting about 800 million people worldwide. Lower back pain is a leading cause of disability and decreased quality of life, and episodes of lower back pain are common.
Currently, managing and preventing back pain involves a combination of exercise, therapy, and, in some cases, surgery. During the study, researchers followed 701 adults who had recently recovered from an episode of lower back pain over a period of one to three years. Half of the participants received a customized walking program and sessions with a physiotherapist. The other half received no specific intervention but could seek treatment if symptoms returned.
They found that the participants in the customized program had fewer instances of pain that limited activity, and they had a longer average duration before recurrence. Chief researcher Professor Mark Hancock stated: "Walking is a simple exercise, widely accessible, and almost anyone can participate, regardless of geographical location, age, or social and economic status."
He added: "We do not know exactly why walking is so beneficial for preventing back pain, but it likely involves a combination of gentle oscillatory movements, strengthening the spinal structures and muscles, relaxation and stress relief, and the release of endorphins that make you feel happy. Of course, we also know that walking comes with many other health benefits, including cardiovascular health, bone density, healthy weight, and improved mental health."
The lead author of the study, Dr. Natasha B. Cuffie, explained: "This not only improved people's quality of life but also reduced their need for healthcare support and the time spent away from work by nearly half."
