Researchers Discover Surprisingly Simple Way To Ease Lower Back Pain
A groundbreaking study reveals that walking nearly doubles the pain-free time for those recovering from low back pain, compared to doing nothing.
Over 700 participants were followed for up to three years, with the walking group also receiving guided education sessions. Not only did they experience fewer recurrences, but their need for medical care and work absences was cut in half. Researchers say this simple, low-cost activity could revolutionize back pain prevention worldwide—and it’s something almost anyone can do.
Walking Halves Risk of Back Pain Recurrence
A groundbreaking study has revealed that adults with a history of low back pain stayed pain-free for nearly twice as long when they walked regularly. This is the first research of its kind to demonstrate such a significant benefit from a simple activity.
Low back pain affects around 800 million people across the globe and is one of the top causes of disability and diminished quality of life.
Experiencing back pain more than once is also extremely common. About 70 percent of individuals who recover from an episode will face another one within a year.
Barriers to Current Treatment Options
While current guidelines recommend both exercise and education to manage and prevent back pain, many exercise programs are expensive, complex, or require close supervision, making them inaccessible to large segments of the population.
To explore a more practical solution, researchers at Macquarie University’s Spinal Pain Research Group conducted a clinical trial to test whether walking could serve as an effective and affordable alternative.
They tracked 701 adults who had recently recovered from back pain, randomly assigning them either to a personalized walking program paired with six education sessions guided by a physiotherapist over six months, or to a control group that did not receive the intervention.
