Posts Tagged ‘exercise’

Physical activity and low back pain: a U-shaped relationship?

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Heneweer H, Vanhees L, Picavet HS. Physical activity and low back pain: a U-shaped relation. Pain. 2009 May;143(1-2):21-5. Epub 2009 Feb 12.

Physical activity is often suggested to be important in the prevention and management of low back pain. However, when viewed simply such advice does not take into account the possibility of U-shaped relation between the level of activity and back pain – i.e. both inactivity and excessive activities present an increased risk for back pain.

Heneweer et al. have analyzed cross-sectional data from the Dutch population-based Musculoskeletal Complaints and Consequences Cohort study (DMC(3), 1998) of a sex-age stratified sample of 25 years and older (n=3364). The type of activity (daily routine, leisure time and sport activity), intensity of and time spent on these activities, and back exertion of sport activities were all taken into account. Physical activity was not associated with chronic low back pain (CLBP) when studied by the dimension of activity, by the intensity or by the duration of physical activity. Only engaging in sport activity was associated with less CLBP. The extremes of the total physical activity pattern were associated with CLBP: a moderate increased risk for CLBP was found for both participants with a sedentary lifestyle and for those being involved in physical strenuous activities. This was especially true for women.

This study provides some evidence that the relationship between physical activity and CLBP is U-shaped. Total physical activity appeared to be more significant than individual dimensions of low back exertion.

Tags: exercise, Low back pain
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