A recent study has shown that adults who suffer from low back pain can significantly reduce the chances of future issues by walking on a regular basis. This is the first study of its kind in the world.
Low back pain affects about 800 million people globally and is a major reason for disability and lower quality of life, according to ScienceDaily.
It’s common for people to experience low back pain more than once. In fact, seven out of ten people who recover from an episode of back pain will experience a recurrence within the year.
The best way to manage and prevent back pain today involves a mix of exercise and education. However, many types of exercise are not accessible or affordable for some people. Certain forms of work outs can be expensive, complicated, and require supervision.
Clinical trials to examine impact of walking on back pain
Macquarie University’s Spinal Pain Research Group conducted a clinical trial to investigate whether walking could be a practical, affordable, and beneficial treatment option.
In the trial, 701 adults who had recently recovered from low back pain were involved. They were randomly assigned to two groups. One received a personalized walking program along with six physiotherapist-guided education sessions over six months. The other group served as a control.
#1 Walk away from low back pain
This is what you should know when recommending walking as a treatment for recurrent episodes of low #backpain
Spoiler: It requires dedication and a structured approach for it to work.
pic.twitter.com/EpcErKWFs7
— Alessio Bricca (@a_bricca) June 21, 2024
Participants were followed for a period ranging from one to three years, depending on their enrollment period. The findings of this study have been published in the latest issue of The Lancet.
Professor Mark Hancock, senior author of the paper and a physiotherapy professor at Macquarie University, said the study’s results could significantly change how we handle low back pain.
He explained that participants in the intervention group experienced less activity-limiting pain compared to those in the control group. They also went longer before experiencing a recurrence, with an average of 208 days compared to 112 days in the control group.
“Walking is a low-cost, widely accessible and simple exercise”
Walking is a low-cost, simple form of exercise accessible to just about anyone regardless of place of residence, age, or financial status.
The exact reasons why walking is effective for preventing back pain haven’t yet been fully comprehended. It probably helps because it involves gentle back-and-forth movements, which strengthen the muscles and structures in the spine.
Walking also helps relax the body and reduce stress while triggering the release of natural feel-good chemicals known as endorphins, explained Professor Mark Hancock.
Besides preventing back pain, walking provides many other health advantages. It is good for the heart, helps maintain strong bones, supports healthy weight management, and boosts mental well-being.