Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40512494›Full record

ArticleJAMA network open2025

Volume and Intensity of Walking and Risk of Chronic Low Back Pain.

Rayane Haddadj, Anne Lovise Nordstoga, Tom Ivar Lund Nilsen, Eivind Schjelderup Skarpsno, Atle Kongsvold, Mats Flaaten, Jasper Schipperijn, Kerstin Bach, Paul Jarle Mork

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JAMA network open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Rayane HaddadjDepartment of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Anne Lovise NordstogaDepartment of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Tom Ivar Lund NilsenDepartment of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Eivind Schjelderup SkarpsnoDepartment of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Atle KongsvoldDepartment of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Mats FlaatenDepartment of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Jasper SchipperijnDepartment of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Kerstin BachDepartment of Computer Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Paul Jarle MorkDepartment of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Importance: Chronic low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent and costly condition, and regular physical activity may reduce its risk. Walking is a common and accessible form of physical activity, but its association with the risk of chronic LBP is unclear. Objective: To examine whether accelerometer-derived daily walking volume and walking intensity are associated with the risk of chronic LBP. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective population-based cohort study used data from the Trøndelag Health (HUNT) Study in Norway, with a baseline in 2017 to 2019 and follow-up in 2021 to 2023. The study included individuals without chronic LBP at baseline and with at least 1 valid day of device-measured walking. Exposure: Daily walking volume (minutes per day) and walking intensity, expressed as metabolic equivalent of task (MET) per minute. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was self-reported chronic LBP at follow-up, defined as pain lasting 3 months or longer in the past 12 months. Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs of chronic LBP according to daily walking volume and mean walking intensity. Results: A total of 11 194 participants aged 20 years or older (mean [SD] age, 55.3 [15.1] years; 6564 women [58.6%]) were included in the analysis. At follow-up (mean [SD] follow-up time, 4.2 [0.3] years), 1659 participants (14.8%) reported chronic LBP. Continuous measures of both walking volume and walking intensity were inversely associated with the risk of chronic LBP using restricted cubic splines models. Compared with participants walking less than 78 minutes per day, those walking 78 to 100 minutes per day had an RR for chronic LBP of 0.87 (95% CI, 0.77-0.98), those walking 101 to 124 minutes per day had an RR of 0.77 (95% CI, 0.68-0.87), and those walking 125 minutes or more per day had an RR of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.67-0.87). Compared with a mean walking intensity of less than 3.00 MET per minute, participants with walking intensity of 3.00 to 3.11 MET per minute had an RR for chronic LBP of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.75-0.96), those with walking intensity of 3.12 to 3.26 MET per minute had an RR of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.72-0.93), and those with walking intensity greater than or equal to 3.27 MET per minute had an RR of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.72-0.93). After mutual adjustment, the association remained largely similar for walking volume but was attenuated for walking intensity. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, daily walking volume and walking intensity were inversely associated with the risk of chronic LBP. The findings suggest that walking volume may have a more pronounced benefit than walking intensity.

Indexed as

Chronic PainLow Back PainWalkingAccelerometryAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNorwayProspective StudiesRisk Factors

Identifiers

PMID40512494
PMCPMC12166487

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.