Walking: A Simple Exercise with Profound Impact on Low Back Pain Relief

Research in The Lancet journal reveals that walking can bring significant relief to individuals with a history of low back pain. Following 700 adults in three groups, those on a personalised walking program experienced the most relief. Walking proves a low-cost, accessible exercise beneficial for various health aspects.

According to research published in The Lancet journal, simply walking can bring significant relief to individuals suffering from recurrent low back pain. The study tracked around 700 adults who had recently recovered from such an episode and divided them into three groups: a personalised walking program, physiotherapy sessions over six months, and a control group with no intervention.

The research team, including experts from Macquarie University in Australia, found that those in the walking group experienced the greatest relief and had longer periods without pain recurrence. 'Walking is a low-cost, widely accessible, and simple form of exercise that almost anyone can engage in, irrespective of their geographic location, age, or socio-economic status,' said Mark Hancock, a professor of physiotherapy and senior author of the study. He emphasized that these findings could profoundly impact how low back pain is managed globally.

Lead author Natasha Pocovi from Macquarie University highlighted that the ease of implementation at a large scale makes walking a more feasible solution than other forms of exercise like supervised physiotherapy sessions requiring expensive equipment. Despite being unsure of the exact mechanisms, researchers speculate that walking's gentle movements and spine strengthening, coupled with relaxation and 'feel-good' endorphins, contribute to its efficacy. Additionally, walking offers several other health benefits, including cardiovascular health, bone density, weight management, and improved mental health, noted Hancock.

Low back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting the quality of life for many. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that around 62 crore people suffered from the condition in 2020, with numbers projected to increase to 84 crore by 2050. A 2022 study also discovered that low back pain is more prevalent in India, affecting about 66 per cent of the population, particularly women, rural communities, and manual laborers.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)