Conclusions Leisure time physical activity may reduce the risk of chronic LBP by 11%–16 % .
Background There are plausible mechanisms whereby leisure time physical activity may protect against  low back pain ( LBP )  but there have been no quality systematic review s and meta-analyses of the subject .
Objective This review aims to assess the effect of leisure time physical activity on non-specific LBP .
Ten year course of low back pain in an adult population-based cohort--the Doetinchem cohort study.
BACKGROUND The long-term course of long-st and ing low back pain is largely unknown since long-term data are scarce . OBJECTIVE We examined the course of  self-reported low back pain  in the prospect i ve population -based Doetinchem cohort over a period of 10years . METHODS Between 1993 and 2007 , around 5700 r and omly selected men and women in four age groups of originally 20 - 29 , 30 - 39 , 40 - 49 , 50 - 59years were measured three times .  Logistic regression analysis was used to study the association of  sociodemographic ( gender , age , education , work status ) and  lifestyle characteristics ( BMI , smoking , physical activity )  with persistent and new episodes of long-st and ing low back pain . RESULTS The prevalence of long-st and ing low back pain is quite stable over a 10year period , approximately 20 % on population level . On individual level , around 30 % of the population was completely free of low back pain during the entire period , 6 % can be characterized as persistent back pain sufferers . Individuals with persistent and a varying pattern have a more unhealthy lifestyle ( BMI and smoking ) than those without low back pain . Age , smoking , obesity and not having a paid job are associated with 10-year persistent back pain in the general population , whereas age and not having a paid job are associated in those with long-lasting back pain at baseline . New episodes of long-st and ing back pain are relatively frequent among women and smokers . CONCLUSIONS Low back pain in the population is characterized as very dynamic which challenges epidemiological studies highly . Long-term information on the course of back pain is needed to define severe subgroups
Conclusions Leisure time physical activity may reduce the risk of chronic LBP by 11%–16 % .
Background There are plausible mechanisms whereby leisure time physical activity may protect against  low back pain ( LBP )  but there have been no quality systematic review s and meta-analyses of the subject .
Objective This review aims to assess the effect of leisure time physical activity on non-specific LBP .