Walking Program Effective in Reducing Low Back Pain

Low back pain is very common problem. It affects four million Australians and 800 milion people in the world. Recurring episodes are common. Current best practices include exercise and education. But some of them are not accessible or affordable. A recent study published in The Lancet reveals that regular walking can effectively reduce the duration of low back pain recurrence in adults.  

This study was conducted by researchers from Macquarie University. In this study, researchers involved 701 adults. Then researchers randomly divided into two groups such as the walking group and the control group. People in the walking group were asked to attend a walking program and six education sessions that were guided by a physiotherapist. They mainly wanted to check the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility of walking as a treatment for low back pain.  

When researchers observed the collected data, they found that people in the walking group experienced less activity-limiting pain. They also had a longer period before recurrence of lower back pain with a median of 208 days. This result shows that walking is very simple, easily accessible and affordable for everyone.  

Walking is very effective for preventing back pain because it strengthens muscles and spinal structure. It releases some chemicals such as endorphins that make a person feel good. It also keeps a person healthy as it keeps a person’s heart healthy and makes bones stronger.  It also helps a person maintain weight and keep him mentally and physically well. One of the reputed doctors also said that walking helps people feel better for longer and saves their money too.  

The results of this study clearly show that exercise-based treatment to prevent lower back pain can effectively improve people’s quality of life. It also reduces their need for medical care support. This study also shows that walking is a very effective and accessible form of exercise. So, people can easily use this to reduce low back pain effectively. Researchers are also trying to make some effective strategies to implement them into daily routine care. This will help patients with recurrent low back pain.  

Reference Link: The Lancet (2024).  

DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00755-4.