There's sufficient evidence proving that exercise is effective in providing relief for and preventing lower back pain. Some added knowledge about lower back pain helps, too, according to researchers led by Daniel Steffens from the University of Sydney in Australia.
The researchers said exercise alone reduces the risk of experiencing episodes of lower back pain. As a result, it lessens the number of times that people have to be absent from work because of the pain.
Interestingly, using shoe insoles and back support belts designed to alleviate back pain do not seem to be associated with back pain relief. Ergonomics does not help prevent back pain, either, the study said.
The researchers analyzed data from 23 previous studies involving a total of 30,850 participants and found that people who exercised were 35 percent less likely to experience bouts of lower back pain and 78 percent less likely to not report for work. Additionally, they found that people who both exercised and had knowledge about their condition were 45 percent less likely to have a lower back pain episode.
However, these effects were reduced over time, particularly after a year, suggesting that exercise should be done regularly for the long-term.
"This finding raises the important issue that, for exercise to remain protective against future LBP, it is likely that ongoing exercise is required," the researchers said in a press release.
The study was published online Jan. 11 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
