Workers who are mostly sedentary can lower their risk for neck pain by simply walking an extra half mile per day. Researchers followed 367 office workers for one year and monitored how many steps they took each day via a pedometer. The scientists followed up with participants on a monthly basis to see if they had experienced any musculoskeletal pain in the preceding 30 days. Overall, 16% of participants experienced neck pain during the course of the study but those who took more steps were less likely to report neck pain. The researchers conclude that taking an extra 1,000 steps each day could reduce a person’s risk for neck pain by 14%.
European Spine Journal, September 2014