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Active Lifestyle Protects Against Incident Low Back Pain in Seniors


Hartvigsen, J & Christensen, K (2007). Active Lifestyle Protects Against Incident Low Back Pain in Seniors. SPINE, 32(1), 76-81

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine associations among physical activity, physical function, and lower back pain (LBP) in an elderly population.

Participants: This study included 1387 persons aged 70-100. The sample was comprised of participants in the Longitudinal Study of Aging Danish Twins (LSADT) 2001 data collection who also participated in the 2003 follow-up and who reported no back pain during the month before the baseline interview. Eighty-six pairs of twin, discordant for physical activity at baseline, were also included in the analysis.

Methods: Data from this population-based cohort study was analyzed to examine patterns of association between no activity, light or strenuous physical activity as self-reported in 2001, and days in which subject reported having LBP in 2003.

Results: Strenuous physical activity (such as long walks, bike rides, sports, dancing, and heavy gardening) was found to be protective in relation to both LBP in the past year and LBP lasting more than 30 days altogether during the past year. Significant dose-response associations between increasing frequency of strenuous physical activity and magnitude of the protective effect in relation to both LBP outcomes were found, with those with poor initial physical function experiencing the strongest protective effect.

Conclusion: Engaging in strenuous physical activity at least once a week was protective for incident LBP in this population of adults aged 70-100. Prevention of lower back pain may be yet another reason to promote and partake in regular physical activity for older adults.


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