Nearly 40 percent of American adults deal with back pain, making it a common health issue. But despite how many people have back pain, there’s a lot of confusion about the best way to treat it.If you’re dealing with back pain that lingers, it’s important to see a healthcare provider for an evaluation. But physical therapists say that many people make the same mistake based on a common myth about back pain while they’re waiting to be seen—and it could make your pain worse. Here’s what physical therapists want people to keep in mind about back pain, plus what to do instead of buying into this common myth.Related: These Are Hands-Down the 3 Best Exercises for Building Muscle, According to Decades of Research
Laura Foley, PT, DPT, clinical specialist at Mass General Brigham Spaulding Rehabilitation Braintree, agrees. “Our bodies need movement,” she says. “With back pain, it’s usually even more important to move.” Avoiding exercise slows your body’s natural ability to heal, Foley says, adding, “Three days of bed rest can result in muscle loss that takes two weeks of work to gain back."
Why Movement Is Good for Back Pain
While a lot of the general public hasn’t gotten the message, there’s plenty of research linking movement to less back pain. A JAMA Network Open study of nearly 11,200 people published in June found that people who walked for more than 100 minutes a day had a 23 percent lower risk of chronic low back pain compared to those who walked less than 78 minutes a day. Walking at a faster pace was also linked to a lower risk of chronic low back pain. A scientific review published in May in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders looked at the impact of six different exercises, including yoga and swimming on people with low back pain. Researchers concluded that all forms of movement “effectively alleviated low back pain” in patients.Physical therapists say there are a few reasons for this. “Exercise improves mobility and strengthens muscles to provide better support to the spine,” Kirsch says. “And natural pain relief occurs with exercise because of the release of endorphins.” Regular exercise can also keep back pain from coming back because it helps to maintain strength and flexibility, she explains.
Not all exercise is created equal when it comes to back pain. “The type of exercise is important: It should be low-impact, with appropriate stretching and strengthening, focusing on core and back muscles as recommended by your physical therapist,” Kirsch says.
Foley suggests starting small with exercise when you have back pain to see how you feel, before ramping things up. “Go for a walk and do gentle movements that, with repetition, make your pain better, or at minimum, make your pain no worse,” she says. “I recommend against heavy lifting, jumping and twisting. Focus on walking, isometrics and gentle stretches.”
Up Next:
Related: ‘I’m a Podiatrist—Here’s How To Shop for Shoes if You Have Plantar Fasciitis'
Sources:
Laura Foley, PT, DPT, clinical specialist at Mass General Brigham Spaulding Rehabilitation BraintreeNancy R. Kirsch, Ph.D., vice chair of rehabilitation and movement sciences at Rutgers UniversityKierstin Drzal, PT, a physical therapist at Michigan State UniversityBack, Lower Limb, and Upper Limb Pain Among U.S. Adults, 2019, National Center for Health StatisticsHaddadj R, Nordstoga AL, Nilsen TIL, et al. Volume and Intensity of Walking and Risk of Chronic Low Back Pain. JAMA Network Open. 2025.Cheng, M., Tian, Y., Ye, Q. et al.Evaluating the effectiveness of six exercise interventions for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.Hence then, the article about the one myth physical therapists who study back pain wish you would stop believing was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The One Myth Physical Therapists Who Study Back Pain Wish You Would Stop Believing )
Also on site :