Lower back pain affects 800 million people globally, but a new Australian study says walking may be a simple, accessible long-term solution. Published in The Lancet, the study found that those who walked three to five times a week stayed pain-free twice as long as non-walkers. Since seven in ten people experience back flare-ups each year, researchers say regular walking can nearly cut the risk of the pain returning in half. The study's senior author, Professor Mark Handcock, said, “We don't know exactly why walking is so good,” but possible reasons include “spinal movement, endorphins, and stress relief.” Hancock advised starting with short walks and gradually increasing distance and intensity as fitness improves, rather than jumping into intense routines. Researchers tracked 701 adults over three years, mostly women in their 50s, splitting them into a walking program group and a no-treatment group. The walking group took fewer sick days and needed less medical care, showing strong results for a no-cost approach to managing pain. While typical treatments include physio, stretching, or even surgery, walking is low-cost, widely accessible, and suitable for nearly everyone.