Exercise the best remedy for lower back pain

Stanley Bigos and colleagues, from the University of Seattle, Washington, reviewed 20 quality controlled trials of different interventions for lower back pain. Their study was published in The Spine Journal.

Seven of the eight high-quality trials promoting various exercise programmes were found effective, but other common and popular methods failed including: reduced lifting programs, back or ergonomic educational interventions, lumbar supports, shoe inserts, and stress management.

Passive interventions such as shoe inserts and lumbar supports do not appear to work, according to the authors.