Search Weight Loss Topics: |
Prevent low back pain with this simple lifestyle change – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale
![](https://www.dgw.tv/wp-content/themes/elegant-brit-b/images/caticon.gif)
![](https://www.dgw.tv/wp-content/themes/elegant-brit-b/images/comicon.gif)
(CNN) Low back pain affects at least 619 million people worldwide, and that number is expected to increase to 843 million people by 2050, according to research estimates.
Unfortunately, nearly 70% of people who recover from an episode of low back pain have a recurrence within a year, experts say. In addition to acute physical discomfort and lost time at work, treatment often requires education, physical therapy and exercises such as Pilates that may require fees or specialized equipment.
Yet there is an easy, free way to prevent low back pain, at least for a while, according to a new randomized clinical trial.
People in the study who walked regularly after having at least one episode of low back pain were pain free nearly twice as long as those who did not.
The intervention group had fewer occurrences of activity-limiting pain compared to the control group, and a longer average period before they had a recurrence, with a median of 208 days compared to 112 days, said senior author Mark Hancock, a professor of physiotherapy at Macquarie University in Sydney.
Walking is a low-cost, widely accessible and simple exercise that almost anyone can engage in, regardless of geographic location, age or socio-economic status, Hancock said in a statement.
The study, published Wednesday in The Lancet journal, followed 701 Australian adults, mostly women in their 50s, who had recently recovered from an episode of low back pain that derailed their ability to perform daily activities. Each person was randomly assigned to a control group with no intervention or an individualized walking and educational program.
Those in the intervention group were asked to build up to 30 minutes of walking five times a week over a six-month period at speeds adjusted for age, physical capacity and individual preferences. Jogging was also allowed.
After three months, most of the people who took part were walking three to five days a week for an average of 130 minutes in total, Hancock told CNN via email.
Participants were asked to wear pedometers to track their daily steps and keep a walking diary. At three months into the program, they also wore an accelerometer that objectively measured daily step count and the amount of brisk walking or other physical activity.
The program also provided six physiotherapist-guided education sessions over six months, a more cost-effective model than typical treatment, Hancock said.
We included 3 standard sessions with a physiotherapist and 3 brief phone catch ups, he said in an email. In the few previous studies of prevention exercise programs for back pain the intervention included approximately 20 group classes.
We also discussed simple strategies to reduce the risk of a recurrence of low back pain and instructions on how to self-manage any minor recurrences. The education was embedded in the same sessions as the walking prescription.
In addition to providing participants with longer pain-free periods, the walking program reduced the amount of time taken off work and medical visits by half, said lead study authorNatasha Pocovi, a postdoctoral fellow at Macquarie.
The exercise-based interventions to prevent back pain that have been explored previously are typically group-based and need close clinical supervision and expensive equipment, so they are much less accessible to the majority of patients, Pocovi said in a statement.
Our study has shown that this effective and accessible means of exercise has the potential to be successfully implemented at a much larger scale than other forms of exercise.
Due to the structure of the study, it was not possible to determine how much of the benefit was due to walking or the educational program provided by physiotherapists, Hancock said.
We believe it is likely the two components complement each other, with education helping to overcome avoidance and fear of movement, while the health coaching and walking program resulted in behavior change, he said.
However, because the intervention appeared to be behavioral coaching, and not actual physical therapy, the act of walking may indeed have been the key reason for improvement, said A. Lynn Millar, a retired physical therapistand former professor at Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was not involved in the study.
This is important, as many studies have shown that pain response is partially a behavioral response, Millar said in an email. The coaching was limited in duration, thus they can suggest that the primary intervention of walking was the major contributor to the long term response.
What is it about walking that is so helpful for lower back pain? For one, exercise is good for every part of the body.
First, the person is sitting less, and sitting is not the best posture for the back, Millar said. Second, walking will improve general circulation,and will improve blood circulation to themuscles of the back thatareactively supporting the individual during the motion. Movement of a joint also helps circulate thejoint fluids,thus thejoints of thespine may be benefiting from the motion.
Walking improves metabolism and the amount of calories burned, experts say. Lower weight can ease the load on the back and legs, ensuring better spinal health. Taking a brisk stroll also improves the strength of core muscles around the spine and in the legs, all of which can improve posture and provide better support to the spine.
Walking also increases muscle endurance, assuring muscles are less susceptible to fatigue and injury. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking increase bone density, protecting against injury while stimulating the release of endorphins, the bodys natural feel-good hormones that reduce pain and stress.
When starting a walking program, good shoes and arch supports are necessary,and potential problems may be offset by exercise programs such as resistance training and stretching, Millar said.
I also think it is important to have varied paces and distances throughout the week. Some problems are caused by progressing too rapidly, and not paying attention to initialaches, she said.
I also used to see people that were walking in shoes that did not have good support, or they had become so worn, the support was gone, she added.
If your back goes out during walking, activity modification such as cycling or swimming may be necessary, Millar said. Taking a day or two off from walking and doing some back exercises and stretching can also help.
The-CNN-Wire & 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
Excerpt from:
Prevent low back pain with this simple lifestyle change - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale
- Exercise Programs - Getting Started [Last Updated On: June 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 10th, 2011]
- Staying on TRAC: New Fall Group Exercise Programs [Last Updated On: June 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 10th, 2011]
- Exercise Programs Lake Forest CA, Foothill Ranch, Laguna Hi [Last Updated On: June 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 11th, 2011]
- Exercise Programs Laguna Beach [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2011]
- Basic Exercise Plans : How to Do a Proper Push-Up [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2011]
- Muscle building form and exercise programs on TV with Robert Marting [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2011]
- Basic Exercise Plans : How to Do Military Push-Ups [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2011]
- Exercise Programs - National MS Society [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2011]
- Can Brain Exercise Programs Save New Neurons? [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2011]
- Community Exercise Programs - Walking Wellness - Get Your Walk On! [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2011]
- What types of exercise or exercise programs are recommended? [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2011]
- Personal Training Exercise Programs for Fitness and Osteoporosis [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2011]
- Try These Proven Weight Loss Exercise Programs [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2011]
- Basic Exercise Plans : How to Do Jumping Jacks [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2011]
- Why Do I Keep Failing on Exercise Programs? [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2011]
- MIKE'S WORKOUTs @ MEFIT STUDIO GYMEA - FAT LOSS + MOVEMENT DEVELOPMENT MODERATE DEMAND [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2011]
- (WARNING) The Best Penis Exercise Programs (THE DIRTY TRUTH) [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2011]
- Les Mills Group Exercise Programs IHRSA 2011 [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2011]
- MSC Group Exercise Programs [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2011]
- The Truth About Supervised Exercise Programs and Lower Back Pain [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2011]
- Online Personal Trainer - Customized Exercise, Weight Loss and Exercise Programs ONLINE [Last Updated On: July 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 1st, 2011]
- Weight Loss Exercise Program Week 1 [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2011]
- Lose Fat [Last Updated On: July 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 7th, 2011]
- Choosing the Right Exercise Program : How to Create a Workout Schedule [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2011]
- 10 fitness secrets #1 daily exercise programs [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2011]
- Get Fit Team KMBC: Exercise Programs [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2011]
- Mike's Workouts - Free-Styling Wk - Quikie 20min Ab Blast [Last Updated On: July 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 28th, 2011]
- DNAMSEL - Review of our favorite workout programs [Last Updated On: July 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 28th, 2011]
- Mike's Workouts - Quickie AB Blast (10min) [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2011]
- Chiropractors and Medical Exercise Programs - Medical Fitness Academy [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2011]
- PWR! Training - Unfreezing for an individual with Parkinson disease with severe freezing [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2011]
- Personal Trainer Sydney |Fitness Program |Exercise program [Last Updated On: August 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 3rd, 2011]
- Soviet Union 1985 Morning exercise TV show [Last Updated On: August 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 3rd, 2011]
- tlantic dance academy. Body developmental exercise programs [Last Updated On: August 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 12th, 2011]
- Maintaining the gains - guidelines for community baesd exercise programs for people with stroke [Last Updated On: August 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 13th, 2011]
- Newsletter #3-Muscle Soreness, Lunges and Exercise Programs [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 17th, 2011]
- B3 Garage Manual Promo - Dirt Bike Fitness Training Programs [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2011]
- Mike's Workouts - Full Body Toning [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2011]
- Lauren Capozzi - Benefits of Exercise for Cancer Survivors [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2011]
- Intense Cardio Exercise [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2011]
- Basic Exercise Plans : How to Slim the Waist Without Losing Weight in Other Areas [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2011]
- Basic Exercise Plans : How to Do a Pull-Up [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2011]
- Australian Women's Weekly Body Balance exercise program [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2011]
- Day 22: Sexy Back with SELF Magazine [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2011]
- Day 18: Toneitup's SELF Magazine Workout [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2011]
- Vibration Plate workout guide exercise program Power Vibe CF1000 Toning Plate Fitness Workout [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2011]
- Stronger Seniors Chair Exercise Program [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2011]
- Sweaty Workout with Toneitup.com [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2011]
- Insanity~Plyo Cardio Circuit (The tatas might need a lil more support) [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2011]
- Stronger Seniors Core Fitness Pilates exercise program for Seniors [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2011]
- Stronger Seniors 'Stretch' - Lower Back Stretching Exercises for Seniors www.strongerseniors.com [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2011]
- Flat Abbs [Last Updated On: September 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 13th, 2011]
- Full Body Workouts - A KILLER Fitness Workout Plan For Women [Last Updated On: September 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 14th, 2011]
- Repetitive Strain Injury Exercise Program - Wrist [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2011]
- Free weight loss exercise program - Lose 50 lbs. in 5 months [Last Updated On: September 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 19th, 2011]
- Hip Replacement Exercise Program [Last Updated On: September 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 19th, 2011]
- Basic Exercise Plans : How to Perform a Sit-Up [Last Updated On: September 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 21st, 2011]
- 6 weeks post natal exercise program to do at home www.getfitforbirth.com [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- GET A BIGGER SEXIER ROUNDER BOOTY ConikiXXX XPress Workout [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Paintball Home Fitness - P90X vs Insanity? [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- GAIN Fitness iPhone App (v1) [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Metabolic Resistance Training [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Bringing Sexy Back: Toneitup [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2011]
- Medical Exercise Program - Medical Fitness Academy [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2011]
- abs exercises women upper [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2011]
- Chair Dancing® Fitness programs 2011 [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- Sport and Fitness Program for children.wmv [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- Hot Daisy Dukes Fashion Haul [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- How to do Head Banger Pull ups [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- LifeSpan TR 800 Folding Treadmill [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2011]
- Basic Exercise Plans : How to Do Proper Push-Ups [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2011]
- 49 yo Trains for Tough Mudder using P90X / TRX Moves [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2011]
- Insanity Workout Review | Max Plyo Live Workout Clips [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2011]
- Shoulder Press Exercise [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Fitness- rubber band [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Pull Up Technique Tips [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Best Tricep workouts Best triceps workout program bodybuilding workouts exercises routine [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Diabetes - Exercise Program - Reverse Insulin Resistance [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Update on Eye Exercise Program Progress [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Easy Exercise for Foot, Arch and Leg Pain from Fallen Arches, Flat Feet, Pronation [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]