Less sitting time may stop back pain from worsening, study reveals

New research from Finland suggests that reducing time spent sitting could help prevent back pain from getting worse.

The study, led by Jooa Norha of the University of Turku, found that individuals with back pain who reduced their sitting time each day experienced less progression of their pain over six months.

“If you have a tendency for back pain or excessive sitting and are concerned for your back health, you can try to figure out ways to reduce sitting at work or during leisure time,” advised Norha, a physiotherapist and doctoral researcher at the university.

The research, published in BMJ Open, focused on 64 overweight or obese participants already dealing with some level of back pain. They were asked to reduce their daily sitting time by 40 minutes.

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After six months, the control group, which maintained their usual sitting habits, saw a significant increase in back pain intensity, while the group that reduced sitting reported stable pain levels.

Norha explained that many participants were middle-aged, sedentary, and carrying extra weight, which are known risk factors not only for cardiovascular disease but also for back pain.

However, the mechanism by which reducing sitting helps back pain remains unclear. Despite using MRIs to study the participants’ back muscles, the team found no link between pain relief and changes in muscle fat or glucose metabolism.

Norha advocates regular physical activity, such as walking or brisk exercise, as more beneficial than simply standing. “It’s important to note that being active is key to back health,” he emphasized.