Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
  • Register
  • Login
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Current
  • Archives
  • Announcements
  • About
    • About the Journal
    • Submissions
    • Editorial Team
    • Privacy Statement
    • Contact
  • Register
  • Login

Quality in Sport

The role of overweight, obesity and exercise therapy on low-back pain
  • Home
  • /
  • The role of overweight, obesity and exercise therapy on low-back pain
  1. Home /
  2. Archives /
  3. Vol. 36 (2024) /
  4. Health Sciences

The role of overweight, obesity and exercise therapy on low-back pain

Authors

  • Karol Zagórski Edward Szczeklik Specialist Hospital in Tarnów, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6407-8075
  • Mateusz Kozik Stefan Żeromski Specialist Hospital in Cracow, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6078-2836
  • Nina Skalska-Dziobek Edward Szczeklik Specialist Hospital in Tarnów, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3755-0350
  • Weronika Małagocka Stefan Żeromski Specialist Hospital in Cracow, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3714-9278
  • Karolina Chybowska University Clinical Hospital in Bialystok, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0660-2645
  • Maria Naruszewicz University Hospital in Cracow, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2417-6937
  • Aleksandra Midro University Hospital in Cracow, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3915-8406
  • Przemysław Cetnarowski Gabriel Narutowicz Specialist Municipal Hospital in Cracow, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1940-0003

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2024.36.56440

Keywords

LBP, Low back pain, obesity, overweight, physical activity

Abstract

Introduction and purpose: Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of impairment worldwide and its occurrence is still growing. There are many modifiable risk factors contributing to developing LBP, especially obesity, smoking and physical work. In spite of a breakthrough in pharmacotherapy, lifestyle changes and exercise remain the primary prophylactic and treatment options. The aim of this paper was to summarize the data available in the literature and recent reports about the effect of obesity and overweight on LBP and the effectiveness of different exercise programs.

Material and methods: The literature was reviewed in the PubMed database, GoogleScholar and the Embase database with the use of keywords.

State of knowledge: Obesity and overweight measured by BMI and other indicators are associated with LBP. Waist circumference (WC), recommended by WHO to measure central obesity was found to increase the risk of chronic LBP by 30%, but a stronger correlation between obesity and LBP was found among the female population. Furthermore, there is low-to-moderate evidence that exercise therapy is superior to conservative treatment, when it comes to decreasing pain severity in low back pain. All in all, aerobic, Pilates, core strengthening and stabilization and flexibility exercises were effective in reducing pain with no significant differences between the particular types of training.

Summary: The information gathered indicates that obesity and overweight are essential risk factors for LBP. Also, various forms of exercise therapy help patients decrease pain in chronic LBP, however, they should be prescribed individually including preference and fitness level to promote compliance.

References

1. Manchikanti L, Singh V, Falco FJ, Benyamin RM, Hirsch JA. Epidemiology of low back pain in adults. Neuromodulation. 2014 Oct;17 Suppl 2:3-10. doi: 10.1111/ner.12018. PMID: 25395111.

2. Parreira P, Maher CG, Steffens D, Hancock MJ, Ferreira ML. Risk factors for low back pain and sciatica: an umbrella review. Spine J. 2018 Sep;18(9):1715-1721. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2018.05.018. Epub 2018 May 21. PMID: 29792997.

3. GBD 2021 Low Back Pain Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of low back pain, 1990-2020, its attributable risk factors, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Rheumatol. 2023 May 22;5(6):e316-e329. doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(23)00098-X. PMID: 37273833; PMCID: PMC10234592.

4. Knezevic NN, Candido KD, Vlaeyen JWS, Van Zundert J, Cohen SP. Low back pain. Lancet. 2021 Jul 3;398(10294):78-92. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00733-9. Epub 2021 Jun 8. PMID: 34115979.Hoy D, Bain C, Williams G, March L, Brooks P, Blyth F, Woolf A, Vos T, Buchbinder R. A systematic review of the global prevalence of low back pain. Arthritis Rheum. 2012 Jun;64(6):2028-37. doi: 10.1002/art.34347. Epub 2012 Jan 9. PMID: 22231424.

5. Hayden JA, Cartwright J, van Tulder MW, Malmivaara A. Exercise therapy for chronic low back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD009790. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD009790.

6. Zhang TT, Liu Z, Liu YL, Zhao JJ, Liu DW, Tian QB. Obesity as a Risk Factor for Low Back Pain: A Meta-Analysis. Clin Spine Surg. 2018 Feb;31(1):22-27. doi: 10.1097/BSD.0000000000000468. PMID: 27875413.

7. Shiri R, Solovieva S, Husgafvel-Pursiainen K, Telama R, Yang X, Viikari J, Raitakari OT, Viikari-Juntura E. The role of obesity and physical activity in non-specific and radiating low back pain: the Young Finns study. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2013 Jun;42(6):640-50. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2012.09.002. Epub 2012 Dec 25. PMID: 23270761.

8. Shiri R, Falah-Hassani K, Heliövaara M, Solovieva S, Amiri S, Lallukka T, Burdorf A, Husgafvel-Pursiainen K, Viikari-Juntura E. Risk Factors for Low Back Pain: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2019 Feb;71(2):290-299. doi: 10.1002/acr.23710. PMID: 30044543

9. Jensen JN, Holtermann A, Clausen T, Mortensen OS, Carneiro IG, Andersen LL. The greatest risk for low-back pain among newly educated female health care workers; body weight or physical work load? BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2012 Jun 6;13:87. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-13-87. PMID: 22672781; PMCID: PMC3404961.

10. Wáng YX, Wáng JQ, Káplár Z. Increased low back pain prevalence in females than in males after menopause age: evidences based on synthetic literature review. Quant Imaging Med Surg. 2016 Apr;6(2):199-206. doi: 10.21037/qims.2016.04.06. PMID: 27190772; PMCID: PMC4858456.

11. Peng T, Pérez A, Pettee Gabriel K. The Association Among Overweight, Obesity, and Low Back Pain in U.S. Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study of the 2015 National Health Interview Survey. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2018 May;41(4):294-303. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2017.10.005. Epub 2018 Feb 17. PMID: 29459122.

12. You Q, Jiang Q, Li D, Wang T, Wang S, Cao S. Waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, body fat rate, total body fat mass and risk of low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Spine J. 2022 Jan;31(1):123-135. doi: 10.1007/s00586-021-06994-y. Epub 2021 Sep 24. PMID: 34561729.

13. Risbud MV, Shapiro IM. Role of cytokines in intervertebral disc degeneration: pain and disc content. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2014 Jan;10(1):44-56. doi: 10.1038/nrrheum.2013.160. Epub 2013 Oct 29. PMID: 24166242; PMCID: PMC4151534.

14. Shiri R, Karppinen J, Leino-Arjas P, Solovieva S, Viikari-Juntura E. The association between obesity and low back pain: a meta-analysis. Am J Epidemiol. 2010 Jan 15;171(2):135-54. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwp356. Epub 2009 Dec 11. PMID: 20007994.

15. Heuch I, Hagen K, Heuch I, Nygaard Ø, Zwart JA. The impact of body mass index on the prevalence of low back pain: the HUNT study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2010 Apr 1;35(7):764-8. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181ba1531. PMID: 20228714.

16. Jayedi A, Soltani S, Zargar MS, Khan TA, Shab-Bidar S. Central fatness and risk of all cause mortality: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 72 prospective cohort studies. BMJ. 2020 Sep 23;370:m3324. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m3324. PMID: 32967840; PMCID: PMC7509947.

17. Heuch I, Heuch I, Hagen K, Zwart JA. A Comparison of Anthropometric Measures for Assessing the Association between Body Size and Risk of Chronic Low Back Pain: The HUNT Study. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 27;10(10):e0141268. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141268. PMID: 26506618; PMCID: PMC4623972.

18. Frilander H, Solovieva S, Mutanen P, Pihlajamäki H, Heliövaara M, Viikari-Juntura E. Role of overweight and obesity in low back disorders among men: a longitudinal study with a life course approach. BMJ Open. 2015 Aug 21;5(8):e007805. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-007805. PMID: 26297359; PMCID: PMC4550727.

19. Hayden JA, Ellis J, Ogilvie R, Malmivaara A, van Tulder MW. Exercise therapy for chronic low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Sep 28;9(9):CD009790. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009790.pub2. PMID: 34580864; PMCID: PMC8477273.

20. Pinto RZ, Ferreira PH, Kongsted A, Ferreira ML, Maher CG, Kent P. Self-reported moderate-to-vigorous leisure time physical activity predicts less pain and disability over 12 months in chronic and persistent low back pain. Eur J Pain. 2014 Sep;18(8):1190-8. doi: 10.1002/j.1532-2149.2014.00468.x. Epub 2014 Feb 27. PMID: 24577780.

21. Meng XG, Yue SW. Efficacy of aerobic exercise for treatment of chronic low back pain: a meta-analysis. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2015 May;94(5):358-65. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000188. PMID: 25299528.

22. Patel H, Alkhawam H, Madanieh R, Shah N, Kosmas CE, Vittorio TJ. Aerobic vs anaerobic exercise training effects on the cardiovascular system. World J Cardiol. 2017 Feb 26;9(2):134-138. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v9.i2.134. PMID: 28289526; PMCID: PMC5329739.

23. Gordon R, Bloxham S. A Systematic Review of the Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity on Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain. Healthcare (Basel). 2016 Apr 25;4(2):22. doi: 10.3390/healthcare402002210.3390/healthcare4020022. PMID: 27417610; PMCID: PMC4934575.

24. de Oliveira NTB, Ricci NA, Dos Santos Franco YR, Salvador EMES, Almeida ICB, Cabral CMN. Effectiveness of the Pilates method versus aerobic exercises in the treatment of older adults with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial protocol. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2019 May 24;20(1):250. doi: 10.1186/s12891-019-2642-9. PMID: 31122227; PMCID: PMC6533704.

25. Yamato TP, Maher CG, Saragiotto BT, Hancock MJ, Ostelo RW, Cabral CM, Menezes Costa LC, Costa LO. Pilates for low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Jul 2;2015(7):CD010265. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010265.pub2. PMID: 26133923; PMCID: PMC8078578.

26. Cruz-Díaz D, Bergamin M, Gobbo S, Martínez-Amat A, Hita-Contreras F. Comparative effects of 12 weeks of equipment based and mat Pilates in patients with Chronic Low Back Pain on pain, function and transversus abdominis activation. A randomized controlled trial. Complement Ther Med. 2017 Aug;33:72-77. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.06.004. Epub 2017 Jun 27. PMID: 28735829.

27. Natour J, Cazotti Lde A, Ribeiro LH, Baptista AS, Jones A. Pilates improves pain, function and quality of life in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2015 Jan;29(1):59-68. doi: 10.1177/0269215514538981. Epub 2014 Jun 25. PMID: 24965957.

28. Wang XQ, Zheng JJ, Yu ZW, Bi X, Lou SJ, Liu J, Cai B, Hua YH, Wu M, Wei ML, Shen HM, Chen Y, Pan YJ, Xu GH, Chen PJ. A meta-analysis of core stability exercise versus general exercise for chronic low back pain. PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e52082. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052082. Epub 2012 Dec 17. PMID: 23284879; PMCID: PMC3524111.

29. Hlaing SS, Puntumetakul R, Khine EE, Boucaut R. Effects of core stabilization exercise and strengthening exercise on proprioception, balance, muscle thickness and pain related outcomes in patients with subacute nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021 Nov 30;22(1):998. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04858-6. PMID: 34847915; PMCID: PMC8630919.

30. Smrcina Z, Woelfel S, Burcal C. A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Core Stability Exercises in Patients with Non-Specific Low Back Pain. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2022 Aug 1;17(5):766-774. doi: 10.26603/001c.37251. PMID: 35949382; PMCID: PMC9340836.

31. Suh JH, Kim H, Jung GP, Ko JY, Ryu JS. The effect of lumbar stabilization and walking exercises on chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Jun;98(26):e16173. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000016173. PMID: 31261549; PMCID: PMC6616307.

32. Bhadauria EA, Gurudut P. Comparative effectiveness of lumbar stabilization, dynamic strengthening, and Pilates on chronic low back pain: randomized clinical trial. J Exerc Rehabil. 2017 Aug 29;13(4):477-485. doi: 10.12965/jer.1734972.486. PMID: 29114516; PMCID: PMC5667628.

33. Fasuyi FO, Fabunmi AA, Adegoke BOA. Hamstring muscle length and pelvic tilt range among individuals with and without low back pain. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2017 Apr;21(2):246-250. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2016.06.002. Epub 2016 Jun 16. PMID: 28532865.

34. Imamura M, Alfieri FM, Filippo TR, Battistella LR. Pressure pain thresholds in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2016 Apr 27;29(2):327-336. doi: 10.3233/BMR-150636. PMID: 26406214.

35. Bae HI, Kim DY, Sung YH. Effects of a static stretch using a load on low back pain patients with shortened tensor fascia lata. J Exerc Rehabil. 2017 Apr 30;13(2):227-231. doi: 10.12965/jer.1734910.455. PMID: 28503538; PMCID: PMC5412499.

36. Leung FT, Mendis MD, Stanton WR, Hides JA. The relationship between the piriformis muscle, low back pain, lower limb injuries and motor control training among elite football players. J Sci Med Sport. 2015 Jul;18(4):407-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2014.06.011. Epub 2014 Jun 27. PMID: 25027772.

37. Chen HM, Wang HH, Chen CH, Hu HM. Effectiveness of a stretching exercise program on low back pain and exercise self-efficacy among nurses in Taiwan: a randomized clinical trial. Pain Manag Nurs. 2014 Mar;15(1):283-91. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2012.10.003. Epub 2012 Dec 23. PMID: 23266331.

38. Kim B, Yim J. Core Stability and Hip Exercises Improve Physical Function and Activity in Patients with Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2020 Jul;251(3):193-206. doi: 10.1620/tjem.251.193. PMID: 32669487.

39. Hartvigsen J, Hancock MJ, Kongsted A, Louw Q, Ferreira ML, Genevay S, Hoy D, Karppinen J, Pransky G, Sieper J, Smeets RJ, Underwood M; Lancet Low Back Pain Series Working Group. What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention. Lancet. 2018 Jun 9;391(10137):2356-2367. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30480-X. Epub 2018 Mar 21. PMID: 29573870.

40. Owen PJ, Miller CT, Mundell NL, Verswijveren SJJM, Tagliaferri SD, Brisby H, Bowe SJ, Belavy DL. Which specific modes of exercise training are most effective for treating low back pain? Network meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2020 Nov;54(21):1279-1287. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-100886. Epub 2019 Oct 30. PMID: 31666220; PMCID: PMC7588406.

Downloads

  • PDF

Published

2024-12-20

How to Cite

1.
ZAGÓRSKI, Karol, KOZIK, Mateusz, SKALSKA-DZIOBEK, Nina, MAŁAGOCKA, Weronika, CHYBOWSKA, Karolina, NARUSZEWICZ, Maria, MIDRO, Aleksandra and CETNAROWSKI, Przemysław. The role of overweight, obesity and exercise therapy on low-back pain. Quality in Sport. Online. 20 December 2024. Vol. 36, p. 56440. [Accessed 14 June 2025]. DOI 10.12775/QS.2024.36.56440.
  • ISO 690
  • ACM
  • ACS
  • APA
  • ABNT
  • Chicago
  • Harvard
  • IEEE
  • MLA
  • Turabian
  • Vancouver
Download Citation
  • Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
  • BibTeX

Issue

Vol. 36 (2024)

Section

Health Sciences

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Karol Zagórski, Mateusz Kozik, Nina Skalska-Dziobek, Weronika Małagocka, Karolina Chybowska, Maria Naruszewicz, Aleksandra Midro, Przemysław Cetnarowski

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Stats

Number of views and downloads: 206
Number of citations: 0

Search

Search

Browse

  • Browse Author Index
  • Issue archive

User

User

Current Issue

  • Atom logo
  • RSS2 logo
  • RSS1 logo

Information

  • For Readers
  • For Authors
  • For Librarians

Newsletter

Subscribe Unsubscribe

Tags

Search using one of provided tags:

LBP, Low back pain, obesity, overweight, physical activity
Up

Akademicka Platforma Czasopism

Najlepsze czasopisma naukowe i akademickie w jednym miejscu

apcz.umk.pl

Partners

  • Akademia Ignatianum w Krakowie
  • Akademickie Towarzystwo Andragogiczne
  • Fundacja Copernicus na rzecz Rozwoju Badań Naukowych
  • Instytut Historii im. Tadeusza Manteuffla Polskiej Akademii Nauk
  • Instytut Kultur Śródziemnomorskich i Orientalnych PAN
  • Instytut Tomistyczny
  • Karmelitański Instytut Duchowości w Krakowie
  • Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego
  • Państwowa Akademia Nauk Stosowanych w Krośnie
  • Państwowa Akademia Nauk Stosowanych we Włocławku
  • Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa im. Stanisława Pigonia w Krośnie
  • Polska Fundacja Przemysłu Kosmicznego
  • Polskie Towarzystwo Ekonomiczne
  • Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze
  • Towarzystwo Miłośników Torunia
  • Towarzystwo Naukowe w Toruniu
  • Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
  • Uniwersytet Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie
  • Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika
  • Uniwersytet w Białymstoku
  • Uniwersytet Warszawski
  • Wojewódzka Biblioteka Publiczna - Książnica Kopernikańska
  • Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne w Pelplinie / Wydawnictwo Diecezjalne „Bernardinum" w Pelplinie

© 2021- Nicolaus Copernicus University Accessibility statement Shop