A new study conducted by scientists from the University of Macquarie in Australia has found that adults with a history of lower back pain who frequently walk have almost twice the duration of non recurrent back pain compared to those who do not walk. This discovery may have a significant impact on the treatment of lower back pain. The relevant paper was published in the latest issue of The Lancet magazine. Lower back pain refers to the pain below the lower edge of the ribs in the back, usually occurring in the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae or between the fifth lumbar vertebrae and the first sacral vertebrae, and is also commonly referred to as "lower back pain". There are 800 million people worldwide suffering from lower back pain. Lower back pain can easily recur, and after a single episode, 70% of people will experience a recurrence within a year. The current management and prevention measures for back pain combine exercise and guidance, but some forms of exercise are costly and require professional guidance, and the results are often unsatisfactory. In contrast, walking or hiking is easy to implement and cost-effective. In the latest study, the spinal pain research team at Macquarie University conducted a clinical trial aimed at confirming whether walking can be an effective intervention. The team tracked 701 recently recovered patients with lower back pain and randomly divided them into two groups: one group performed a personalized walking plan and received 6 coaching courses within 6 months; The other group serves as the control group. Researchers conducted a one-year to three-year follow-up survey on participants based on their joining time. Compared with the control group, the intervention group had fewer relapses of lower back pain, and the average time between two episodes was longer, with a median of 208 days, while the control group only had 112 days. Research has shown that this simple and easy exercise method is very beneficial for patients with back pain. The team is currently unsure why walking is so effective in reducing the recurrence of back pain. They explained that the possible reason is that the gentle oscillatory movements of the body during walking strengthen the spinal structure and muscle toughness, relieve stress, and release endorphins that make people feel good. Of course, walking is also beneficial for cardiovascular health, bone density, weight, and can improve mental health. (Lai Xin She)