Now a Lancet report says that walking is indeed the best way to deal with back pain and prevent its recurrence.
Approximately seven in 10 people, who recover from low back pain, end up suffering a new episode of low back pain in 12 months.
“The thinking has now shifted away from bed rest for low back pain,” she explained during an email interview.
The study is significant because approximately seven in 10 people, who recover from low back pain, usually suffer a new episode in 12 months.
“It is important to focus on prevention because the recurrence of low back pain is incredibly common,” said Dr Pocovi.
When Pune-based IT professional, Ketan Gupta, 29, sat long hours at his workstation teleconferencing with international clients, little did he realise that the small throbbing pain in his lower back would intensify and make it difficult for him to get off his bed. Then his orthopaedic advised walking as a daily drill before physiotherapy. His pain improved and his back no longer tensed up as he walked 45 minutes daily. Now a Lancet report says that walking is indeed the best way to deal with back pain and prevent its recurrence.
Adults suffering from low back pain were not only able to control it but went nearly twice as long without reporting a recurrence after they took up walking regularly, according to a study in The Lancet.
What the study says
The study, called the WalkBack trial, focussed on assessing the merits of walking as a cost-effective prevention strategy for a nagging problem that interferes with normal physical activity. Approximately seven in 10 people, who recover from low back pain, end up suffering a new episode of low back pain in 12 months. “We found that this simple intervention was very effective in reducing recurrences that led to activity limitation (reduction of 28 per cent) and reducing recurrences that led to care-seeking (reduction of 43 per cent) among participants when compared to a no-intervention control group,” said Dr Natasha Pocovi, lead author from the Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney. “The thinking has now shifted away from bed rest for low back pain,” she explained during an email interview.
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The clinical trial by Macquarie University’s Spinal Pain Research Group (2019-2022) followed 701 adults, who had recently recovered from an episode of non-specific low back pain (defined as pain in the area between the 12th rib and buttock crease not attributed to a specific diagnosis like vertebral fracture, infection or cancer). They were randomly allocated to either an individualised walking programme with monthly physiotherapist-guided education sessions over six months, or to a control group.
What causes low back pain?
It emanates from weak muscles because of a largely sedentary lifestyle and obesity. This may cause spine misalignment, leading to fatigue, degeneration and pain over time. Dr Mayur Kardile, consulting spine surgeon, Jehangir Hospital, said that Ketan was like most Indian sedentary workers, particularly techies, who develop low back pain because of lack of exercise and abnormal posture while working.
“A physical examination and X-ray showed there was nothing wrong with Ketan’s spine. He had restricted movement, severe muscular spasms and low back pain because of stress on the paraspinal muscles. These surround the spine and are responsible for both moving and stabilising it. They take most of the load, particularly of body weight,” said Dr Kardile. “Walking adds endurance to the back region while boosting metabolism, calorie burn and lowering body weight,” he added.
Why walking is a good intervention for back pain
Walking is suggested as it is low-impact and can be done for longer periods of time. “It is likely to include the combination of the gentle oscillatory movements, loading and strengthening the spinal structures and muscles, relaxation and stress relief and release of ‘feel-good’ endorphins,” said Prof Mark Hancock, senior author of the paper and professor of physiotherapy at Macquarie University.
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“Walking strengthens the muscles supporting the spine by actively engaging and contracting the core, back and leg muscles, which work together to stabilise the spine,” added Dr Kardile.
Why are the findings significant?
The study is significant because approximately seven in 10 people, who recover from low back pain, usually suffer a new episode in 12 months. So prevention is a key part of spinal health. “It is important to focus on prevention because the recurrence of low back pain is incredibly common,” said Dr Pocovi. Low back pain is currently the leading cause of years lived with disability and 843 million people are expected to suffer from it by 2050.
