Study: Regular exercise best way to ease lower back pain

Los Angeles Times
Posted: Tuesday, Jun. 16, 2009

More is better when it comes to alleviating lower back pain – more exercise, that is.

Although many who suffer from back pain fear exercise will make it worse , a study presented recently to the American College of Sports Medicine found that exercising four days a week gave people greater relief from back pain than working out fewer times a week or not at all.

In the study, 120 people were randomly assigned to one of four groups for 12 weeks, with the groups doing strength training two, three, four days per week (the fourth group did no exercise).
Those in the four-day-a-week program had 28 percent reduction in pain compared with 14 percent for those who exercised two days a week. The four-day group reported better quality of life and less disability.

Note from Andrea: a little off topic, but VERY important! I am absolutely living proof that regular exercise helps with back injuries, some days I'd rather lay on the couch (and knit) but I work out 6 days a week. The difference in the strength of my back is remarkable (and the testosterone cream I take has really helped strengthen the muscles in my back, so the two go hand in hand.)