Positive Effects on Intervertebral Discs from Exercise

Author: University of Gothenburg
Published: 2011/07/02 - Updated: 2022/02/23
Topic: Back Pain Information - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Study shows physical exercise has a positive effect on the formation of cells in the intervertebral discs.

Pain in the lumbar spine is common and may be due to disc degeneration, which means the disc cells no longer have normal functions. Based on the results, the research team intends to study whether cells in degenerated discs respond as positively to exercise as they have shown to do in normal discs.

Physical exercise is already an important part of the treatment for back pain today, but there is limited knowledge about the specific effect that exercise has on the discs and what the optimal dose of exercise is.

Introduction

Physical exercise has a positive effect on the formation of cells in the intervertebral discs. This is shown by a study from the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS), that took place in Gothenburg.

Main Item

The study from the Sahlgrenska Academy shows that physical activity has a positive effect on cells in the intervertebral discs. The result is based on rats undergoing treadmill exercise. It was subsequently studied how many new cells in the intervertebral discs were formed in rats that had run on a treadmill for about one hour a day compared with animals that had only moved around freely in a cage.

"This is new knowledge showing that the intervertebral discs can be positively affected by physical activity," says Helena Brisby, an associate professor at the Department of Orthopaedics at Sahlgrenska Academy and spine surgeon at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

Pain in the lumbar spine is common and may be due to disc degeneration, which means that the disc cells no longer have normal functions. Based on the results of the study, the research team led by Helena Brisby and Bjarn Rydevik intends to go on to study whether the cells in degenerated discs respond as positively to exercise as they have now shown to do in normal discs.

"Physical exercise is already an important part of the treatment for back pain today, but there is limited knowledge about the specific effect that exercise has on the discs and what the optimal dose of exercise is," says Bjarn Rydevik, a professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at Sahlgrenska Academy.

The research team plan for continued studies with this animal model, which hopefully will establish whether exercise can prevent disc degeneration and could consequently prevent back pain, but also aims to study the effect of exercise when back problems have already arisen.

The annual meeting is organized by the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, which is a non-profit organization with members from all parts of the world who conduct research on problems affecting the lumbar spine. The purpose of the annual meeting is to create a forum where the researchers can exchange knowledge.

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by University of Gothenburg and published on 2011/07/02, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, University of Gothenburg can be contacted at gu.se/en NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

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Cite This Page (APA): University of Gothenburg. (2011, July 2 - Last revised: 2022, February 23). Positive Effects on Intervertebral Discs from Exercise. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved February 15, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/spinal/backpain/intervertebral-discs.php

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