Swimming may offer an effective treatment for chronic back pain, according to research from the Spinal Pain Research Centre at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. The findings suggest that a structured swimming program, combined with physiotherapy, can lead to substantial pain reduction.
Lower back pain is a leading cause of disability, affecting an estimated 10 million Britons annually. While treatments such as physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory medication are common, research indicates that up to 90 percent of patients experience minimal relief from non-surgical therapies.
To investigate the potential benefits of swimming, researchers divided 76 patients, aged 26 to 74, who had suffered from lower back pain for at least three months into two groups. One group participated in an eight-week swimming program, involving three 30-to-45 minute swimming sessions per week alongside four physiotherapy sessions. The second group received only physiotherapy and continued their usual activities.
After eight weeks, the group that included swimming experienced approximately a 50 percent reduction in back pain, according to lead researcher Deborah Wareham. The positive effects of regular swimming persisted in follow-up assessments at six months and one year, although the difference between the groups diminished over time.
While exercise is generally recommended as a first-line treatment for chronic low back pain globally, swimming has not been as extensively evaluated clinically as other activities like Pilates. Professor Mark Hancock, co-director of the Spinal Pain Research Centre, stated that the rationale for swimming in back pain management is logical and required testing. He noted that swimming can enhance range of motion, strength, and aerobic capacity, while the water's buoyancy can facilitate movements that might otherwise be painful. Patients reported that swimming boosted their confidence to begin exercising and engage in other physical activities, with some continuing to swim post-program and others transitioning to different forms of exercise.