What is it about?
Low back pain is one of the most common causes of pain and disability worldwide. Walking on a treadmill is often recommended during rehabilitation because it is a low-impact form of exercise that may help reduce pain and improve function. However, there is limited guidance on how long people with low back pain should walk during each session. This systematic review examined published clinical studies to determine how well treadmill walking is tolerated and to identify walking durations that are safe and practical for adults with low back pain. The review also highlights areas where further high-quality research is needed to establish evidence-based recommendations.
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Why is it important?
Low back pain affects millions of people worldwide. Understanding safe and tolerable treadmill walking durations can help clinicians prescribe effective exercise programs, improve patient confidence, support recovery, and guide future research.
Perspectives
This review supports the use of treadmill walking as a rehabilitation option for low back pain while highlighting the need for larger, high-quality clinical trials to establish clear recommendations on the most effective walking duration and treatment protocols.
Dr Mohammed Amjad Khan
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Tolerability and acceptable time frames of treadmill walking in low back pain rehabilitation: A systematic review, Physiotherapy - The Journal of Indian Association of Physiotherapists, July 2026, Wolters Kluwer Health,
DOI: 10.4103/pjiap.pjiap_63_25.
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