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The effect of daily walking steps on preventing neck and low back pain in sedentary workers: a 1-year prospective cohort study

European Spine Journal volume 24, pages 417–424 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the causal relationship between daily walking steps and the 1-year incidence of neck and low back pain in workers with sedentary jobs.

Methods

A 1-year prospective study was carried out among 387 workers who reported no spinal symptoms in the previous 3 months with pain intensity greater than 30 mm on a 100-mm visual analog scale. Data were gathered using a self-administered questionnaire, physical examination, and pedometer. Follow-up data were collected every month for the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders and every 3 months for daily walking steps. Two regression models were built to analyze the effect of daily walking steps on the 1-year incidence of neck and low back pain.

Results

Among 367 (95 %) participants followed for 1 year, 16 and 14 % reported incident neck and low back pain, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, a negative association between daily walking steps and onset of neck pain was found. Increasing daily walking steps by 1,000 reduced the risk of neck pain by 14 %. No significant association between daily walking steps and the onset of low back pain was found.

Conclusions

Increasing daily walking steps is a protective factor for onset of neck pain in those with sedentary jobs. Interventions to reduce neck pain should include attempts to increase daily walking steps.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by Chulalongkorn University Centenary Academic Development Project (#12).

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Interdisciplinary Program of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Ekalak Sitthipornvorakul

  2. Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Prawit Janwantanakul

  3. Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Vitool Lohsoonthorn

Authors
  1. Ekalak Sitthipornvorakul
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  2. Prawit Janwantanakul
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  3. Vitool Lohsoonthorn
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Prawit Janwantanakul.

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Cite this article

Sitthipornvorakul, E., Janwantanakul, P. & Lohsoonthorn, V. The effect of daily walking steps on preventing neck and low back pain in sedentary workers: a 1-year prospective cohort study. Eur Spine J 24, 417–424 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-014-3577-3

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Keywords

  • Pedometer
  • Musculoskeletal disorder
  • Office worker
  • Exercise