Walking reduces pain and improves physical functioning in people who have chronic musculoskeletal pain

O’Connor SR, Tully MA, Ryan B, et al. La marche pour la douleur chronique musculo-squelettique: revue systématique et méta-analyse. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2015;96:724-34.

Review question

Does walking reduce pain and improve physical function in people who have chronic (long-lasting) musculoskeletal pain?

Background

Chronic musculoskeletal pain is long-lasting pain that affects bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. Common types of musculoskeletal pain include low back pain, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia syndrome. These painful conditions limit people from doing their regular activities. Exercise is often recommended as treatment to reduce pain and to maintain or improve physical function.

How the review was done

The researchers did a systematic review, searching for published trials up to March 2014. They found 26 trials with 2384 people 18 years of age or older (average 57 years of age). People had osteoarthritis in 12 trials, fibromyalgia syndrome in 8 trials, chronic low back pain in 5 trials, and chronic hip, lower back, or knee pain in 1 trial.

The walking intervention was walking only in 13 trials and walking plus education or other forms of exercise in the other 13 trials.

Walking interventions (outside or using a treadmill) were compared with education, usual care, other forms of exercise, or relaxation and massage.

Outcomes were pain and self-reported function.

What the researchers found

Trials were rated as having fair or good quality.

Walking interventions improved pain up to 1 year but did not differ from non-walking interventions after 1 year.

Walking interventions improved physical function at all time points.

Conclusion

Walking reduces pain and improves physical function in people who have chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Walking vs non-walking interventions for chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions