JAMA Network
15 Sept 2025
A huge research study has just been published by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology which involved an incredible 11,000 people! The results of the study showed clearly the importance of daily walking in preventing lower back pain.
The findings demonstrate that it is the volume of walking that a person does daily which significantly contributes to the health benefits.
"People who walk more than 100 minutes every day have a 23 per cent lower risk of lower back problems than those who walk 78 minutes or less," said Rayane Haddadj, PHD candidate and researcher of musculoskeletal disorders at the University.
The intensity of walking contributed a little, but the results showed that people who walked for longer not faster, had less pain overall.
"Intensity also plays a role in the risk of long-term back problems, but not as much as the daily amount of walking," stressed Haddadj.
The participants wore two sensors on their thigh and back for up to a week. These measured the volume and intensity of daily walking.
Even low-intensity, leisurely walks provide the protection we need from back pain so long as the volume and frequency of walking is high. This research study shows that we could save ourselves from chronic back pain by adding and prioritising a long walk in our daily routine.
It is interesting that the findings brought less strenuous physical activity to the foreground as opposed to high-intensity exercise. This could have implications in the wider health community as leisure walking is accessible for most people. We may see a rise in healthcare professionals prescribing walking as a form of treatment for chronic back pain.
"The findings highlight the importance of finding time to be physically active - to prevent both chronic back problems and a number of other diseases. Over time, this could lead to major savings for society," said Paul Jarle Mork, a professor at NTNU's Department of Public Health and Nursing.
Lower Back Pain (LBP) is one of the most common chronic ailments and therefore the financial stress on individuals and the healthcare system is extremely high. Due to our lifestyle, chronic LBP is projected to increase in the future. This study demonstrates how crucial it is to begin implementing a change in daily habits for the wider community. Going for a long walk every day may become a priority or even a prescription for people with chronic LBP.
Full Research Article: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2835297