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Exercise as a treatment for chronic low back pain
James Rainville1, Carol Hartigan, Eugenio Martinez
1The Spine Center at New England Baptist Hospital, 125 Parker Hill Avenue, Boston, MA 02120, USA. jrainvil@caregroup.harvard.edu
Summary
Exercise is a safe and effective treatment for chronic low back pain, improving function and reducing pain without increasing injury risk. It enhances flexibility, strength, and overall well-being for most patients.
Area of Science:
- Physical Therapy
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Pain Management
Background:
- Exercise is a common treatment for chronic low back pain (CLBP).
- It is known to improve function and work capacity in CLBP patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the safety and efficacy of exercise for chronic low back pain.
- To aid clinicians in understanding exercise's utility in treating CLBP.
Main Methods:
- Computerized literature search of MEDLINE using keywords: exercise, fitness, back pain, backache, rehabilitation.
- Review of acquired articles and personal research collections.
- Scrutiny of papers for data relevant to exercise's safety and efficacy in CLBP.
Main Results:
- No evidence suggests exercise increases risk of back problems or work disability in acute, subacute, or chronic low back pain.
- Exercise may have a neutral effect or slightly reduce the risk of future back injuries.
- Exercise improves back flexibility and strength, reduces pain intensity (10-50% reduction), and lessens disability by addressing fear, attitudes, and affect.
Conclusions:
- Exercise is safe for individuals with back pain, posing no increased risk of future injuries or work absence.
- Strong evidence supports exercise for improving back flexibility and strength.
- Exercise programs lead to improved pain ratings and can mitigate behavioral, cognitive, affective, and disability aspects of back pain.