Get Moving to Help with Chronic Low Back Pain
Chronic low back pain is one of the most common types of chronic pain that people experience. It is one that can lead to disability and often keeps people from doing many physical activities that they would otherwise participate in. While many people fear getting physically active, especially engaging in high-intensity exercise, the research points to the idea that it may be exactly what those with chronic low back pain need in order to get some relief.
There have been studies sharing the results of what exercise can do to help those with chronic pain. One study published in the January 2024 issue of the journal ScienceDirect, looked at whether or not high-intensity exercise would help those with chronic low back pain (1).
The researchers conducted a literature review, using eight randomized clinical trials that included using different high intensity exercises for those with chronic low back pain.
The literature review found that engaging in high-intensity exercise did improve health-related quality of life, reduce disability and pain intensity. This is good news for those who suffer from chronic low back pain because they do not have to shy away from intense exercise, assuming that it will make things worse. In fact, the research shows that there is a good chance that it will help make things better.
In another study published in the May 2023 issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, researchers reported their findings of a meta-analysis they conducted (2). They used several online databases and included 17 trials, including 8 of them being included in the meta-analysis.
The analysis they conducted found that engaging in high-intensity exercise increased pain self-efficacy, which is the person’s confidence in their ability to function effectively despite their chronic pain. This is important because between the two of these recent studies, the research shows that engaging in high-intensity exercise can help people feel more confident about their ability to do so even though they experience chronic pain. It may improve one’s overall health-related quality of life, as well as reduce pain intensity and disability.
Those who want to engage in high-intensity exercise should start with short durations to ease into it and see how they feel. Good options to consider include cycling, stationary bike riding, and elliptical machines. These all provide an opportunity to engage in high-intensity exercise while still being able to have control over the speed and intensity.
Sources:
ScienceDirect. Efficacy of high-intensity exercise in people with chronic low back pain. January 2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048712023000373?via%3Dihub
Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. Exercise Increases Pain Self-efficacy in Adults With Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain. May 2023. https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2023.11622
