Lower back pain has become a common problem, especially among people who sit for long periods of time. A new study has shown that about 70% of people who recover from lower back pain have the pain again within a year.

Recurrent back pain places a heavy burden on both the individual and the health care system.

A study published in The Lancet suggests that a program combining walking and education may help reduce the recurrence of low back pain.

In the study, 701 adults who had recently recovered from low back pain were randomized to either a personalized walking and education program (intervention) or no treatment (control).

People in the intervention group received guidance from a physiotherapist in six sessions over six months. The first, third and fifth sessions focused on creating a personalised walking plan tailored to each person’s needs and preferences.

The remaining sessions were short check-ins to monitor progress and address any issues. Due to the COVID pandemic, most sessions were conducted via telehealth.

The goal of the program was to have participants walking for about 30 minutes five times a week by the end of six months. They were also encouraged to continue walking even after the program ended.

Education provided by physiotherapists during the sessions helped participants better understand pain, reduce fear of exercise, and gain confidence in managing minor recurrences.

The control group was not given any preventive treatment or education, which is common after recovering from a low back pain problem.

What were the results of the study?

Participants were monitored monthly for three years to track any new episodes of low back pain and associated costs, such as time off from work and health services.

The intervention reduced the risk of recurring low back pain limiting daily activities by 28%, and the risk of recurring pain requiring professional care by 43%. People in the intervention group also had a longer pain-free period, with an average of 208 days compared to 112 days for the control group.

The program proved to be cost-effective, mainly due to reduced absenteeism from work and lower health service utilization in the intervention group.

The study had some limitations. Most participants were women, aged 43 to 66, and were well-educated, which may limit the findings to a limited audience.

Additionally, the physiotherapists in the study were trained in health coaching, so it is unclear whether the same results would be achieved with other therapists.

Benefits of Walking for Lower Back Pain

Why is walking helpful for lower back pain? The exact reasons are unknown, but may include gentle movements, strengthening of the spinal structure and muscles, relaxation, stress relief, and the release of endorphins that block pain signals.

Other low-cost exercises, such as swimming, may also help prevent back pain, but no studies have yet examined this.

Preventing low back pain is challenging, but these findings provide hope that we are moving one step closer to a solution.