A new Australian study has found that swimming is highly effective in relieving lower back pain, outperforming several other forms of exercise. Researchers also found that its benefits extend well beyond the training period, with positive effects lasting between six months and one year after completing the programme.
The study, conducted by researchers at Macquarie University in Sydney, found that participants who completed an eight-week swimming programme experienced significant improvements in mobility along with a marked reduction in lower back pain.
According to Deborah Wareham, who led the study, swimming reduced participants’ pain by nearly 50%. The trial involved 76 adults aged between 26 and 74, all of whom had experienced lower back pain for at least three months before beginning the programme.
Mark Hancock, a researcher at the University’s Spine Pain Research Centre, said swimming improves mobility and physical strength while also enhancing the body’s ability to use oxygen more efficiently during physical activity.
