Aerobic exercise reduces lower back pain and improves function – analysis of research

Every year almost half of adults in the UK report lower back pain lasting for at least 24 hours, costing the NHS in excess of a staggering £1 billion on back pain related costs. And it’s very hard to treat. So experts looked at eight studies involving a total of 310 people with chronic lower back pain to assess the impact of aerobic exercise and report their findings in the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
They found that after aerobic exercise, people with chronic lower back pain had decreased scores in disability, anxiety, depression and pain.
“The current meta-analysis provides reliable evidence that aerobic exercise could effectively diminish pain intensity and improve the physical and psychologic functioning of chronic lower back pain patients,” the research group concludes. “Thus, aerobic exercise may be a good choice in the treatment for chronic lower back pain.”
Aerobic exercise is exercise performed at a moderate level of intensity for an extended period of time that maintains an increased heart rate.

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Click here to read the original research.

Image credit: Robert Neff