Australian research has shown for the first time that a program of swimming can be clinically effective in reducing disability from chronic low back pain. Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the clinical trial found an eight-week individualized program of swimming and education, guided by a physiotherapist, improved function and pain significantly more than education alone in people with back pain.

The researchers recruited 76 adults aged 26 to 74 (average 41 years) who were experiencing some disability due to low back pain lasting for at least 12 weeks and allocated them at random to one of two groups. One group received an eight-week individualized program of swimming and education, supported by four telehealth coaching sessions with a physiotherapist.

The swimming program was based on each participant’s current swimming ability and fitness, with a goal of achieving three sessions of 30-45 minutes by the end of the eight weeks. Education covered key concepts and messages including: ‘Pain does not always equal harm’; ‘The back is made for movement’; ‘Flare-ups are likely’; and ‘The best management is to keep moving’. After eight weeks, disability was significantly lower in the swimming group. Participants in the other (control) group had one to two sessions with a physiotherapist to learn the same key messages about back pain as the intervention group but otherwise continued their usual treatment and activity.

Swimming may indeed be worth a try for those with low back pain, even if this specialized approach is not available. If swimming is not an option, or doesn’t work for you without the added ingredients present in this study, another approach to low back pain is the highly recommended hands-on, non-opioid based care of a chiropractic physician.

Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com