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Swim Your Back Pain Away: New Study Shows Results
24 Jul
Summary
- Swimming program showed significant improvement in back pain.
- Participants experienced about a 50% improvement in function.
- Benefits of swimming for back pain persisted for a year.
Individuals suffering from chronic low back pain may find relief by taking laps in a swimming pool. A new clinical trial, published recently in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, indicates that an eight-week swimming program led to significant improvements in both function and pain levels.
Researchers recruited 76 adults aged 26 to 74 who had experienced low back pain for at least three months. Half of the participants engaged in an individualized swimming program, which included telehealth coaching, aiming for three 30- to 45-minute sessions weekly. The other half received only educational information.
Following the eight-week period, swimmers demonstrated substantially better function and reported less pain. They scored approximately 30% lower on a standard disability scale compared to the control group. The positive outcomes of swimming were sustained for up to a year, although the gap between the groups narrowed over time.
Experts noted that swimming's buoyancy aids movement and can help individuals engage in exercises that might otherwise be painful. Participants also reported increased confidence to pursue other physical activities after engaging in swimming.
