Low Back Pain and Physical Activity in an Israeli Town
Low back pain (LBP) is a puzzle. Little is completely understood about its causes, who is most likely to get it, or how to keep it from coming back. Medical researchers are trying to fit together pieces of the LBP puzzle. These authors looked at how physical activity relates to LBP. The general thinking in the medical world is that moderate amounts of physical activity are best for the back. It's enough activity for good fitness, but not enough to cause intense strain on the back. However, research gives no clear answer.
What makes this study unique is that all the subjects lived in the same town in Israel. About 2,000 adults between the ages of 22 and 70 took part in a survey. Most of the subjects were white-collar workers who had middle or high incomes. The survey asked questions about back pain, general health, lifestyle, and jobs. Physical activity was divided into three categories: activities of daily living, job activities, and recreation and sport activities. Sports activities were rated by the intensity and the amount of time subjects did them per week and per year.
About half the subjects took part in regular sporting activities. This group was generally more educated, smoked less, liked their work better, and had jobs that involved less heavy work. They also suffered less LBP than subjects who didn't do regular sporting activities. Most of the subjects involved in sports did moderate-intensity activities. The study results didn't show that any particular sports were related to LBP in any way.
The authors weren't sure exactly why the group who took part in sports had less LBP. They note that this group had healthier lifestyles in general. The authors also say that it is possible that LBP would cause people to do fewer sports activities. Still, the authors conclude that moderate sports activities seem to be good for everyone, including people with LBP.
References: Tamar Jacob, et al. Physical Activities and Low Back Pain: A Community-Based Study. In Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. January 2004. Vol. 36. No. 1. Pp. 9-15.
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