Exercise therapies

Back-pain sufferers wish they had worked out more

When it comes to do-it-yourself health remedies, exercise was the top consumer-rated measure to help relieve back pain. In the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center survey, 44 percent of the respondents who tried this lifestyle change said they found back exercises helped a lot. When focusing on regrets, a surprising 58 percent said they wished they had done more exercises to strengthen their back in the past year. That's more than twice the number who said they wished they had reduced or avoided activities that might have made the pain worse.

The importance of exercise is confirmed by clinical studies showing that it is effective in preventing lower-back pain and reducing disability in patients who have mild, recurrent, or chronic lower-back pain. But the usefulness of back exercises in people with acute lower-back pain is somewhat controversial.

There is no solid evidence supporting general vs. specific exercise, individualized vs. group programs, or supervised vs. home exercise. The types of recommended programs include water and walking workouts, aerobic exercise, weight training, muscle endurance exercise, and stretching. There's no one-size-fits-all exercise solution because not all programs are equally effective for all back-pain sufferers.

It's critical to consider your own preferences when choosing an exercise program because doing so can improve motivation and outcome. Consumer Reports recommends that you see a physician before starting to exercise, especially if you have other health problems or are experiencing pain. Trained professionals, such as physical therapists, chiropractors, or certified strength and conditioning specialists, may be helpful in tailoring programs to patients.

Bottom line

Find an exercise program that works for you now to help avoid future regrets.