Archive · 31 Dec 2025
Study: Physical Activity May Temporarily Trigger Back Pain
A new study found that doing things like lifting, bending, or pushing can make lower back pain worse for a short time.
But don't worry, it doesn't cause long-term problems.
The study looked at over 400 people and tracked their activities for a year.
They found that spending more time on these activities can cause temporary pain, but it doesn't lead to long-term issues.
So, if you have lower back pain, you can still do these activities knowing they won't harm you in the long run.
The study also found that sitting was linked to a lower risk of back pain flare-ups.
This is good news because it means staying active is generally good for your back.
Physical activities like lifting, bending, and pushing can temporarily worsen lower back pain.
The study found no long-term functional limitations from these activities.
Over 400 participants were surveyed over a one-year period.
Sitting was associated with a lower risk of back pain flare-ups.
The findings support the idea that physical movement generally benefits lower back pain.
- Who
- Researchers from Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, University of Washington, and Australian institutes
- What
- Study on the effects of physical activities on lower back pain
- When
- One-year follow-up period
- Where
- Published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open
- Why
- To understand the short and long-term effects of common physical activities on lower back pain
- Study Focus
- Effects of physical activities on lower back pain
- Activities Analyzed
- Lifting, bending, pushing, pulling, twisting, squatting, sitting, standing, walking, crawling
- Participants
- Over 400
- Follow-Up Period
- One year
- Key Finding
- Short-term flare-ups but no long-term damage
- Publication
- The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open
- Researchers
- Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, University of Washington, and Australian institutes