When you have back pain… should you exercise? Or not?

Back pain, or lumbago, refers to pain in the lower back and surrounding areas. Back pain is very common. Because it is a symptom experienced as frequently in daily life as a cold, it is easy to dismiss it as insignificant.

 

In fact, back pain is a common ailment among most people who work while sitting. About 80% of the population is likely to experience back pain at some point in their lives. Of these, 14% complain of back pain lasting more than two weeks, 2% experience pain in both their lower back and legs, and it is said that only 1% of them will require surgery.

 

Most cases of back pain are simple lower back pain that improves simply by correcting lifestyle habits. According to a spinal neurosurgeon, even somewhat severe back pain can be alleviated and lead a normal life without difficulty if properly managed through medication and physical therapy.

So, should people with back pain without underlying conditions exercise or not? In this regard, there are research findings indicating that one should not reduce exercise using back pain as an excuse, and that symptoms improve when exercised more frequently.

A research team at the University of Alberta in Canada divided 240 male and female patients with chronic back pain into four groups—those who exercised 2, 3, or 4 days a week and those who did not—and observed them for 16 weeks.

As a result, it was found that people who exercised for 4 days had a better quality of life than other groups, with reduced back pain and lethargy.

 

The percentage of people reporting reduced pain was 28% in the group that exercised for 4 days, 18% in the 3-day group, and 14% in the 2-day group. Additionally, physical and mental quality of life improved by 28%, 22%, and 16%, respectively, depending on the group.

 

The research team stated, “There is a common belief that people with back pain should not exercise frequently, but this study shows that lifting weights about four days a week reduces pain and improves quality of life.”

 

The results of this study were presented at the American College of Sports Medicine conference under the title "Exercise More, Not Less, To Ease Aching Back."

 

 

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I suffered a lot from back pain a few years ago.

Back pain is like other health issues, but

Just because they say walking is the best,

I walked along the stream for a really long time on my way home from work.

 

Walking while listening to the radio,

In the evening, I do a lot of stretching to straighten my back.

 

Then it works really well.