Acting Vice-Dean Stephan Milosavlejevic; photo courtesy of University of Saskatchewan.

 

Chances are you most likely know someone who suffers from lower back pain. The chances are also likely you suffer from back pain yourself.

Over 80 per cent of the population at some point in their life will suffer from mild to severe chronic back pain; it is one of the most common musculo-skeletal disorders in the nation. Thus it is one of the most prevalent and expensive issues in the health care field, contributing dis proportionally to Canada's multi-billion dollar health care bill for diagnosis and treatment.

The good news is the pain may be best managed with the cost-effective strategy of instating a mild to moderate exercise routine -sometimes as simple as a daily walking routine.

A new study project at the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine is setting out to prove the hypothesis, and Stephan Milosavljevic is confident the project will reveal facts which will lower health care costs for both the individual and the nation. The primary focus of the study is setting out to put more meat on the hypothesis that exercise plays a key role in health recovery, especially when it comes to treating disorders of the back and spine.

Little research has been investigated on the effectiveness of walking as a health strategy for back pain and the trial is testing and recording the benefits of a 12 week walking program compared to to a trial of educating people on back pain only.

Walking not only improves your musculo-skeletal system, but also provides an array of other benefits. A daily walk gets people out in nature and provides a change of scenery apart from the house, couch or office. Activity releases endorphins, the feel-good hormone, and also improves circulation to stimulate heart and brain activity which puts you in a brighter and lighter mood. Walking is a natural human activity which is less stressful on the joints than other more rigorous activity, making it a beneficial remedy for most people of all ages and dispositions.

The clinical trial has been developed by the School of Physical Therapy and the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture.