Physical activity helps recovery from chronic back pain

 Physical activity is key to recovery from chronic back pain, says a new study published in BMC Public Health.

Scientists from Sweden looked at 1,836 people aged 18–84 years who had persistent back pain between 2002 and 2003.

By 2007, 21% of participants had recovered from their back pain. All volunteers completed follow-up questionnaires so the team could analyse if there were links between physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and recovery from back pain: 23% were sedentary in their free time, 51% had low levels of physical activity, 16% were moderately active and 10% were highly active.

Physical activity was associated with an increased likelihood of recovery from persistent back pain in women. But there was no evidence of the same in men. And there was no link between BMI and recovery from back pain.

“Regular leisure-time physical activity seems to improve recovery from persistent back pain among women,” say the authors.

“Exercise and staying fit are vitally important in the effective management of musculoskeletal conditions, including low back pain,” comments a spokesperson from Arthritis Research UK.

More work is needed to look at the lack of benefit of exercise in men as it was a surprising outcome.