Back pain is a significant issue for many Australians. In 2022, around 4 million people (or 16% of the population) were estimated to be living with back problems, making it a common health issue. It’s also costly, with $3.4 billion spent on treatment and management in 2020–21. But could something as simple as reducing the amount of time we spend sitting make a difference?
A Finnish
study, published in the BMJ Open Journal, looked
into this by examining how cutting down on sedentary behaviour
affected back pain and overall muscle health over six months.
What Did the Study Find?
Researchers worked with 64 adults, all aged 40 to 65, who were overweight and physically inactive. The group was split in two: one group was asked to reduce their sitting time by one hour each day, while the other continued their usual routine.
Key findings include:
- Back Pain: In the group that reduced sitting,
back pain remained stable, whereas the group that continued
sitting experienced a significant increase in pain. This
suggests that simply sitting less could help prevent back pain
from worsening.
- Disability: Interestingly, pain-related
disability increased in both groups. This means that even though
sitting less helped with back pain, it didn’t necessarily
improve people’s ability to move or function as much as
expected.
- Muscle Health: There was no major difference between the groups in terms of muscle insulin sensitivity or fat content. However, those who took more steps each day did show better muscle insulin sensitivity, meaning they used glucose more efficiently.
What Does This Mean for Australians?
In Australia, back problems are a major contributor to disease burden. They accounted for 4.3% of the country’s total disease burden in 2023, and treatment for back pain led to 177,000 hospitalisations in 2021–22. Clearly, finding ways to manage or prevent back pain is crucial.
This study suggests that making small adjustments—like standing more and reducing the time you spend sitting—could be an easy way to help manage back pain. While it may not completely resolve the issue, it could help prevent the pain from getting worse. That’s important when considering the high cost and personal impact of back problems in Australia.
Taking Action
If you’re one of the many Australians dealing with back pain, reducing sedentary behaviour could be a step in the right direction. Simple changes like standing up every hour, using a standing desk, or taking short walking breaks might make a difference.
With back problems accounting for a large portion of hospitalisations and costs in Australia’s healthcare system, making small changes to our daily habits could have a big impact—not only on individual health but also on the broader community.
