Walking More May Reduce Risk of Chronic Low Back Pain

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PainRelief.com Interview with:
Rayane Haddadj, PhD Candidate
Department of Public Health and Nursing
Norwegian University of Science and Technology

PainRelief.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and accounts for the highest healthcare spending in the Unites States.

Given its widespread impact, identifying modifiable risk factors – those that can be addressed through public health policy and targeted interventions – is therefore of great importance for reducing the burden of this condition.

PainRelief.com: What are the main findings?

Response: Our study shows that higher daily walking volume lowers the risk of developing chronic low back pain. This relationship was dose-dependent – meaning the more people walked, the lower their risk – up to about 100 minutes per day, after which the benefit levelled off. This is an important finding because walking is a simple, low cost, and accessible activity that can be promoted widely to reduce the burden of low back pain.

PainRelief.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Our findings add to the growing body of evidence that physical activity is essential for long-term health. Even modest increases in daily activity can make a difference or as the World Health Organization puts is “Every move counts towards a better health”. Walking more could therefore be a simple yet powerful way to reduce risk of chronic low back pain and other diseases.

PainRelief.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Future research should include randomized controlled trials to establish causality, as well as studies exploring the biological and behavioral mechanisms underlying the association between walking and chronic low back pain. These approaches would help increasing our understanding of how and why walking may reduce the risk of chronic low back pain.

PainRelief.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?

Response: This study is part of the LABDA project, and EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions doctoral network under Horizon Europe. LABDA unites leading researchers in advanced movement behavior data analysis to deepen our understanding of the association between physical activity and health.

Citation:

Haddadj R, Nordstoga AL, Nilsen TIL, et al. Volume and Intensity of Walking and Risk of Chronic Low Back Pain. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(6):e2515592. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.15592
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2835297

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Last Updated on June 14, 2025 by PainRelief.com