Back pain – one of the most common ailments of modern man. It can appear suddenly and disappear within a few days, but in some cases it develops into a chronic form, making it difficult to live and work.
New research from Norway and Denmark showed: simple daily walking Helps significantly reduce the risk of chronic pain.
100 minutes a day is the key to a healthy back
Scientists have concluded that walking more than 100 minutes a day reduces the likelihood of chronic low back pain by almost 25% compared to those who move less than 78 minutes. Moreover, the decisive factor was not speed, but rather the duration of activity.
“Our results show that amount of time spent on your feetis more important than average walking intensity,” the study authors note. People who remained active for more than an hour and a half every day suffered less pain and maintained mobility even in old age.
How the research took place
Participated in the survey 11,194 people aged about 55 years. Approximately 15% reported experiencing persistent low back pain. The researchers compared their physical activity levels and found that 100 minutes of movement – optimal duration for both sexes and all age groups.
After this point, the beneficial effect stabilized: increasing walking time beyond 100 minutes did not provide a significant additional reduction in risk.
Walking as a public health strategy
The authors called on authorities to consider walking as a simple and accessible prevention strategy. Musculoskeletal diseases, including back pain, are already the second leading cause of disability, right after mental disorders.
The study was published in a scientific journal JAMA Network Open and emphasizes: even small but regular walks can restore spinal mobility and reduce inflammatory reactions in back tissues.
The main rule is to move every day. Just an hour and a half of walking in the fresh air can be the most reliable protection against chronic pain.
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