Suffering from Chronic Back Pain? Lifestyle Modification May Make Difference: Study Finds
A new study, published in JAMA Network Open, found integrating lifestyle support into back pain care could reduce disability and enhance quality of life.
The randomised controlled trial included 346 participants from across Australia, all of whom had chronic low back pain and at least one lifestyle risk factor, such as obesity, poor diet, sedentary habits, or smoking. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the "Healthy Lifestyle Program (HeLP)" or standard guideline-based physiotherapy care for managing their low back pain.
The HeLP participants received support from physiotherapists, dietitians and telephone health coaches who helped them work out which lifestyle habits might be influencing their back pain, such as weight, inactivity, poor diet, poor sleep, smoking or excessive alcohol use. They were then provided evidence-based advice over a six-month period to help address the lifestyle challenge.
The approach showed several benefits compared to standard care including reduced disability, with participants scoring an average of 1.3 points lower on the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (higher scores indicate greater disability). HeLP participants also lost an average of 1.6kg more than the control group.
Chief Investigator Associate Professor Chris Williams explained that the findings challenge traditional views of back pain management:
"Resolving back pain needs to focus on more than the back. Our bodies are not like machines, we are more like ecosystems where lots of factors interact and determine how we work and feel. Back pain is no different. So, when someone has back pain that doesn't get better, they should expect to get comprehensive care about a range of health factors, not just a focus on what's happening in their spine. We should shout this message from roof tops."
Reference: https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2025/01/13/healthy-lifestyle-changes-shown-to-help-low-back-pain.html
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