Nearly 40 percent of Americans struggle with back pain, making it the most common area of the body for aches. While it’s tempting to quit all activity and recuperate in bed with a heating pad, some doctors recommend a different approach for finding relief from back pain: hiking.
If your back is throbbing, you probably won’t feel like doing much of anything, let alone hitting the trails. However, going for a hike during your recovery period and beyond can help accelerate the healing process and even reduce the risk of future issues, according to doctors I interviewed.
I struggled with back pain for years and made the mistake of cutting back on my usual hikes after flare-ups. But my doctor suggested moving more to help reduce pain, along with other lifestyle hacks, and the results have been impressive. I haven’t experienced a major back pain episode in five years.
Back issues are personal, and experts say it’s important to be strategic about using hiking to ease your pain. Here’s what they recommend.
How Hiking Can Help Get Rid of Back Pain
A considerable body of research supports walking as a…
