Evidence Summary
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Key messages from scientific research that's ready to be acted on
Got It, Hide thisWalking reduces pain and improves physical functioning in people who have chronic musculoskeletal pain
O’Connor SR, Tully MA, Ryan B, et al. Walking exercise for chronic musculoskeletal pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. 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
| Outcomes | Follow-up | Number of trials (number of people) | Effect of walking intervention |
| Pain | Up to 8 weeks | 7 trials (343 people) | Walking reduced pain by about 5 points out of 100 |
|
| 2 to 12 months | 9 trials (604 people) | Walking reduced pain by about 8 points out of 100 |
|
| More than 12 months | 3 trials (529 people) | No difference in pain. |
| Physical function | Up to 8 weeks | 7 trials (371 people) | Walking improved physical function by about 6 points out of 100 |
|
| 2 to 12 months | 8 trials (570 people) | Walking improved physical function by about 9 points out of 100 |
|
| More than 12 months | 3 trials (397 people) | Walking improved physical function by about 5 points out of 100 |
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Glossary
A comprehensive evaluation of the available research evidence on a particular topic.
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