Lower back pain can be reduced by walking 30 mins a day: Lancet

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered that walking for just 30 minutes daily can significantly reduce low back pain. This world-first trial, aimed at assessing the effectiveness of low-cost exercise, offers new hope for those suffering from this common condition.

The trial involved 701 individuals across Australia, with an average age of 54, who had recently recovered from non-specific low back pain. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: an intervention group and a no-treatment control group. The intervention group engaged in progressive walking for at least 30 minutes daily for six months under the supervision of a trained physiotherapist. Both groups were followed for 12 to 36 months.

Reference:

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an individualised, progressive walking and education intervention for the prevention of low back pain recurrence in Australia (WalkBack): a randomised controlled trial, Natasha C Pocovi, Prof Chung-Wei Christine Lin, Prof Simon D French, Petra L Graham, Johanna M van Dongen, Prof Jane Latimer, PhD, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00755-4