The nice thing about walking is that everybody knows how to do it.

People can do it in any location or any place.

The participants assigned to the walking program also worked with a physical therapist throughout the study.

Pedestrians in Tokyo

Grant Faint / Getty Images

The physical therapists provided education on basic pain science and strategies for reducing lower back pain recurrence.

Why Might Walking Reduce Lower Back Pain?

Light physical activity, rather than bed rest, is often recommended for managing non-specific low back pain.

Everybody is different and some people respond better to yoga than walking for pain management and vice versa.

Walking is a low-risk exercise that increases blood flow and reduces stiffness in the back.

Boswell said he often recommends starting with three or four short walksabout five to ten minutesper week.

We know that patients who have more depressive symptoms or anxious symptoms do have worsened pain, Singh said.

Thats true of pretty much every pain condition, including back pain.

Walking can improve your mood, reduce stiffness, and increase blood flow.

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National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Taking care of your back at home.