The Association Between Physical Activity and The Development of Degenerative Spine Disease: A Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2025.37.56898Keywords
degenerative spine disease, physical activity, spinal health, lower back painAbstract
Introduction: Degenerative spine disease (DSD) encompasses conditions such as intervertebral disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, and spondylosis, often linked to aging and lifestyle factors. Physical activity is frequently proposed as a modifiable factor influencing the onset and progression of DSD. This review explores the relationship between physical activity and DSD development, highlighting its potential role in prevention and management.
Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, focusing on studies published between 2000 and 2024. Keywords included "degenerative spine disease," "physical activity," "exercise," and "spinal health." Inclusion criteria comprised observational studies, clinical trials, and meta-analyses that examined physical activity's effects on DSD risk or progression.
Results: Findings suggest a dual role of physical activity in DSD development. Moderate, consistent exercise, particularly low-impact activities like swimming, yoga, and walking, appears protective, enhancing spinal muscle strength, flexibility, and disc nutrition. Conversely, high-intensity or repetitive loading activities, such as heavy lifting or contact sports, are associated with an elevated risk of accelerated degeneration. Evidence highlights a dose-dependent relationship, where activity type, intensity, and duration critically modulate outcomes. Limited studies suggest potential genetic and biomechanical factors influencing individual responses to physical activity.
Conclusions: Physical activity exerts a complex influence on DSD development, with moderate exercise showing potential benefits while excessive strain may increase risks. Tailored exercise regimens could mitigate DSD progression, emphasizing the importance of personalized physical activity guidelines. Further longitudinal studies are needed to clarify mechanisms and optimize prevention strategies.
References
Clarençon F, Law-Ye B, Bienvenot P, Cormier É, Chiras J. The Degenerative Spine. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2016;24(3):495-513. doi:10.1016/j.mric.2016.04.008
Maldaner N, Stienen MN. Subjective and Objective Measures of Symptoms, Function, and Outcome in Patients With Degenerative Spine Disease. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020;72 Suppl 10:183-199. doi:10.1002/acr.24210
Gallucci M, Limbucci N, Paonessa A, Splendiani A. Degenerative disease of the spine. Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 2007;17(1):87-103. doi:10.1016/j.nic.2007.01.002
Katz JN, Zimmerman ZE, Mass H, Makhni MC. Diagnosis and Management of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Review. JAMA. 2022;327(17):1688-1699. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.5921
Vanti C, Andreatta S, Borghi S, Guccione AA, Pillastrini P, Bertozzi L. The effectiveness of walking versus exercise on pain and function in chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Disabil Rehabil. 2019;41(6):622-632. doi:10.1080/09638288.2017.1410730
Belavý DL, Quittner MJ, Ridgers N, Ling Y, Connell D, Rantalainen T. Running exercise strengthens the intervertebral disc. Sci Rep. 2017;7:45975. Published 2017 Apr 19. doi:10.1038/srep45975
Iatridis JC, MacLean JJ, Roughley PJ, Alini M. Effects of mechanical loading on intervertebral disc metabolism in vivo. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88 Suppl 2(0 2):41-46. doi:10.2106/JBJS.E.01407
Stuber, Kent J., et al. "Core stability exercises for low back pain in athletes: a systematic review of the literature." Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine 24.6 (2014): 448-456.
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;251(3):193-206. doi:10.1620/tjem.251.193
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;22(1):998. Published 2021 Nov 30. doi:10.1186/s12891-021-04858-6
Cramer H, Lauche R, Haller H, Dobos G. A systematic review and meta-analysis of yoga for low back pain. Clin J Pain. 2013;29(5):450-460. doi:10.1097/AJP.0b013e31825e1492
Büssing A, Ostermann T, Lüdtke R, Michalsen A. Effects of yoga interventions on pain and pain-associated disability: a meta-analysis. J Pain. 2012;13(1):1-9. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2011.10.001
Li F, Omar Dev RD, Soh KG, Wang C, Yuan Y. Effects of Pilates exercises on spine deformities and posture: a systematic review. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024;16(1):55. Published 2024 Feb 22. doi:10.1186/s13102-024-00843-3
Meng XG, Yue SW. Efficacy of aerobic exercise for treatment of chronic low back pain: a meta-analysis. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2015;94(5):358-365. doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000000188
Samartzis, D., Karppinen, J., Cheung, J. P. Y., & Lotz, J. (2013). Disk degeneration and low back pain: are they fat-related conditions?. Global spine journal, 3(3), 133-143.
Rice J, Li LC, Davis JC, et al. Supporting physical activity for mobility in older adults with mobility limitations (SuPA Mobility): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2023;24(1):769. Published 2023 Nov 28. doi:10.1186/s13063-023-07798-9
Dalsky GP, Stocke KS, Ehsani AA, Slatopolsky E, Lee WC, Birge SJ Jr. Weight-bearing exercise training and lumbar bone mineral content in postmenopausal women. Ann Intern Med. 1988;108(6):824-828. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-108-6-824
Shojaa M, von Stengel S, Kohl M, Schoene D, Kemmler W. Effects of dynamic resistance exercise on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis with special emphasis on exercise parameters. Osteoporos Int. 2020;31(8):1427-1444. doi:10.1007/s00198-020-05441-w
Steele J, Bruce-Low S, Smith D, Osborne N, Thorkeldsen A. Can specific loading through exercise impart healing or regeneration of the intervertebral disc?. Spine J. 2015;15(10):2117-2121. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2014.08.446
Webb CW, Aguirre K, Seidenberg PH. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2024;109(4):350-359.
Karppinen, Jaro, et al. "Management of degenerative disk disease and chronic low back pain." Orthopedic Clinics 42.4 (2011): 513-528.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Jakub Chodkowski, Urszula Korotko
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 105
Number of citations: 0
