title: Does walking improve disability status, function, or quality of life in adults with chronic low back pain? A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the effectiveness of walking alone and walking compared to other non-pharmacological management methods to improve disability, quality of life, or function in adults with chronic low back pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search of the following databases was undertaken: Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Pedro, SportDiscus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The following keywords were used: 'back pain' or 'low back pain' or 'chronic low back pain' and 'walk*' or 'ambulation' or 'treadmill*' or 'pedometer*' or 'acceleromet*' or 'recreational' and 'disability' or 'quality of life' or 'function*'.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary research studies with an intervention focus that investigated walking as the primary intervention compared to no intervention or any other non-pharmacological method in adults with chronic low back pain (duration >3 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven randomised controlled trials involving 869 participants were included in the review. There was no evidence that walking was more effective than other management methods such as usual care, specific strength exercises, medical exercise therapy, or supervised exercise classes. One study found over-ground walking to be superior to treadmill walking, and another found internet-mediated walking to be more beneficial than non-internet-mediated walking in the short term.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is low quality evidence to suggest that walking is as effective as other non-pharmacological management methods at improving disability, function, and quality of life in adults with chronic low back pain.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia lawbj004@mymail.unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Belinda J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lawford
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia International Centre for Allied Health Evidence, Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity, Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ferrar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking / Q000191:economics / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Chronic low back pain; disability; function; quality of life; walking