• As reported in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, low back pain is the ninth largest cause of disease burden globally. 

• A study published in The Lancet found that a personalized walking and education intervention effectively reduces activity-limiting low back pain recurrence.

• The trial screened 3206 potential participants and randomly assigned 701 individuals with a history of low back pain to either an intervention group (351) or a control group (350).

• Participants received six sessions with a physiotherapist and independently followed a walking program, aiming to walk five times a week for at least 30 minutes daily for six months.

• 96% of the participants were followed up for at least 12 months. 

• Results showed that the intervention group had a lower risk of recurrence (HR 0.72), with a median of 208 days to recurrence compared to 112 days in the control group. 

• Secondary outcomes favored the intervention group, showing lower disability scores and higher quality of life at various times.

• Although the intervention incurred higher costs, it was cost-effective, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $7802 per QALY gained.

• Adverse events were similar across groups, with more lower extremity events but fewer low back pain-related events in the intervention group.

• Overall, the walking intervention reduced low back pain recurrence and improved quality of life.

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