Walking More Than 100 Minutes a Day Linked to Lower Risk of Chronic Low Back Pain
A recent study conducted by investigators at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology has found a significant association between walking and the risk of chronic low back pain. The study revealed that individuals who walked more than 100 minutes per day had a 23% lower risk of developing chronic low back pain.
Chronic low back pain is a common condition that affects people of all ages and is a leading cause of disability worldwide. It is also one of the most costly chronic conditions in terms of healthcare spending, particularly in the United States. Finding effective and accessible forms of exercise to manage and prevent chronic low back pain is crucial.
Walking is often recommended as a simple and affordable form of exercise that can benefit overall health and well-being. However, specific guidelines on the frequency and duration of walking for the management of chronic low back pain have been lacking. This study aimed to address this gap by examining the relationship between daily walking volume, walking intensity, and the risk of chronic low back pain.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, included 11,194 adults aged 20 years and older who were free of chronic low back pain at baseline. Participants wore accelerometers to measure daily walking volume and intensity over a week. Chronic low back pain was self-reported at follow-up, with a primary outcome of pain lasting three months or longer in the past year.
The results showed that individuals who walked between 101-124 minutes per day had a risk ratio of 0.77, while those who walked 125 minutes or more had a risk ratio of 0.76. Higher walking intensity was also associated with a reduced risk of chronic low back pain. These findings suggest that promoting increased walking volume may offer greater preventive benefits in reducing the burden of chronic low back pain compared to focusing solely on walking intensity.
In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of regular walking as a simple and effective way to reduce the risk of chronic low back pain. By incorporating more walking into daily routines, individuals may experience significant benefits in terms of their overall health and well-being. Public health strategies should consider promoting increased walking volume as a key strategy for preventing and managing chronic low back pain.
Written by Justin Jackson, Edited by Sadie Harley, Fact-checked by Robert Egan
Reference:
Rayane Haddadj et al, Volume and Intensity of Walking and Risk of Chronic Low Back Pain, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.15592
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