How often does back pain come back?
Posted by Nicholas Dang on
Once you recover from low back pain, how often and how quickly does it recur?
In a 2019 study following 250 patients over 12 months:
· 69% had a recurrence of an episode of back pain
· 40% had a recurrence of activity-limiting back pain (i.e. pain was enough to affect normal activities moderately or greater)
· Median time to recurrence of an episode of back pain was 139 days (approximately 4.5 months)
· Frequent exposure to awkward postures, longer time sitting (>5 hours per day), and >2 previous episodes were predictive of recurrence within 12 months.1
So, recurrence of low back pain is very common (I have had it); however, most episodes are relatively minor.
What can you do about this?
Exercise combined with education (advice and information from a trusted clinician) may reduce the risk of an episode of low back pain by 45%.2
This could be as simple as an individualised, progressive walking and education program with a physiotherapist3 – but it does not have to be walking!
As always, consult with a trusted health professional for advice specific to you.
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References
1. da Silva et al. (2019) (PMID: 31208917)
2. Steffens et al. (2016) (PMID: 26752509)
3. Pocovi et al. (2024) (PMID: 38908392)
- Tags: back pain
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