The effectiveness of walking as an intervention for low back pain: a systematic review - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

The effectiveness of walking as an intervention for low back pain: a systematic review

P Hendrick et al. Eur Spine J. 2010 Oct.

Abstract

As current low back pain (LBP) guidelines do not specifically advocate walking as an intervention, this review has explored for the effectiveness of walking in managing acute and chronic LBP. CINAHL, Medline, AMED, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases, as well as a hand search of reference lists of retrieved articles, were searched. The search was restricted to studies in the English language. Studies were included when walking was identified as an intervention. Four studies met inclusion criteria, and were assessed with a quality checklist. Three lower ranked studies reported a reduction in LBP from a walking intervention, while the highest ranked study observed no effect. Heterogeneity of study design made it difficult to draw comparisons between studies. There is only low-moderate evidence for walking as an effective intervention strategy for LBP. Further investigation is required to investigate the strength of effect for walking as a primary intervention in the management of acute and chronic LBP.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

• The relationship between physical activity and low back pain outcomes: a systematic review of observational studies.
  Hendrick P, Milosavljevic S, Hale L, Hurley DA, McDonough S, Ryan B, Baxter GD. Hendrick P, et al. Eur Spine J. 2011 Mar;20(3):464-74. doi: 10.1007/s00586-010-1616-2. Epub 2010 Nov 4. Eur Spine J. 2011. PMID: 21053026 Free PMC article. Review.
• The effects of walking intervention in patients with chronic low back pain: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
  Sitthipornvorakul E, Klinsophon T, Sihawong R, Janwantanakul P. Sitthipornvorakul E, et al. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2018 Apr;34:38-46. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.12.003. Epub 2017 Dec 12. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2018. PMID: 29257996 Review.
• The effectiveness of walking versus exercise on pain and function in chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.
  Vanti C, Andreatta S, Borghi S, Guccione AA, Pillastrini P, Bertozzi L. Vanti C, et al. Disabil Rehabil. 2019 Mar;41(6):622-632. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2017.1410730. Epub 2017 Dec 5. Disabil Rehabil. 2019. PMID: 29207885
• Motor Control Exercise for Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Cochrane Review.
  Saragiotto BT, Maher CG, Yamato TP, Costa LOP, Costa LCM, Ostelo RWJG, Macedo LG. Saragiotto BT, et al. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2016 Aug 15;41(16):1284-1295. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000001645. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2016. PMID: 27128390 Review.
• Neuromuscular exercise reduces low back pain intensity and improves physical functioning in nursing duties among female healthcare workers; secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial.
  Taulaniemi A, Kankaanpää M, Tokola K, Parkkari J, Suni JH. Taulaniemi A, et al. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2019 Jul 13;20(1):328. doi: 10.1186/s12891-019-2678-x. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2019. PMID: 31301741 Free PMC article.

Cited by

• An R Shiny App for a Chronic Lower Back Pain Study, Personalized N-of-1 Trial.
  Chandereng T. Chandereng T. Harv Data Sci Rev. 2022;2022(SI3):10.1162/99608f92.6c21dab7. doi: 10.1162/99608f92.6c21dab7. Epub 2022 Sep 8. Harv Data Sci Rev. 2022. PMID: 37091071 Free PMC article.
• Neuromuscular exercise and back counselling for female nursing personnel with recurrent non-specific low back pain: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial (NURSE-RCT).
  Suni JH, Rinne M, Kankaanpää M, Taulaniemi A, Lusa S, Lindholm H, Parkkari J. Suni JH, et al. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2016 Mar 3;2(1):e000098. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2015-000098. eCollection 2016. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2016. PMID: 27900169 Free PMC article.
• Overall confidence in the results of systematic reviews on exercise therapy for chronic low back pain: a cross-sectional analysis using the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) 2 tool.
  Almeida MO, Yamato TP, Parreira PDCS, Costa LOP, Kamper S, Saragiotto BT. Almeida MO, et al. Braz J Phys Ther. 2020 Mar-Apr;24(2):103-117. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2019.04.004. Epub 2019 May 8. Braz J Phys Ther. 2020. PMID: 31113734 Free PMC article. Review.
• Analysis of asymmetry of the forces applied on the lower limb in subjects with nonspecific chronic low back pain.
  Zahraee MH, Karimi MT, Mostamand J, Fatoye F. Zahraee MH, et al. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:289491. doi: 10.1155/2014/289491. Epub 2014 Jul 1. Biomed Res Int. 2014. PMID: 25165695 Free PMC article.
• A systematic review of studies using pedometers as an intervention for musculoskeletal diseases.
  Mansi S, Milosavljevic S, Baxter GD, Tumilty S, Hendrick P. Mansi S, et al. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014 Jul 10;15:231. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-15-231. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014. PMID: 25012720 Free PMC article. Review.

References

1. 1. ACC. http://www.acc.co.nz/search.results/index.htm?ssUserText=low+back+pain+g.... Accessed 14 Sep 2009
2. 1. Al-Obaidi SM, Al-Zoabi B, Al-Shuwaie N, Al-Zaabie N, Nelson RM. The influence of pain and pain-related fear and disability beliefs on walking velocity in chronic low back pain. Int J Rehabil Res. 2003;26(2):101–108. doi: 10.1097/00004356-200306000-00004. - DOI - PubMed
3. 1. Al-Obaidi SM, Beattie P, Al-Zoabi B, Al-Wekeel S. The relationship of anticipated pain and fear avoidance beliefs to outcome in patients with chronic low back pain who are not receiving workers’ compensation. Spine. 2005;30(9):1051–1057. doi: 10.1097/01.brs.0000160848.94706.83. - DOI - PubMed
4. 1. Alton F, Baldey L, Caplan S, Morrissey MC. A kinematic comparison of overground and treadmill walking. Clin Biomech. 1998;13(6):434–440. doi: 10.1016/S0268-0033(98)00012-6. - DOI - PubMed
5. 1. American College of Sports Medicine Position stand. The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, and flexibility in healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;30(6):975–991. doi: 10.1097/00005768-199806000-00032. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources

• Full Text Sources

  • Europe PubMed Central
  • PubMed Central
  • Springer

• Medical

  • MedlinePlus Consumer Health Information
  • MedlinePlus Health Information

• Research Materials

  • NCI CPTC Antibody Characterization Program

• Miscellaneous

  • NCI CPTAC Assay Portal