The Impact of Exercise on Intervertebral Disc Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #intervertebral disc health
- #exercise
- #systematic review
- Exercise training's impact on intervertebral disc (IVD) health was systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed.
- Running was associated with better IVD health, while other forms of physical loading showed mixed results.
- The study included 39 studies with 4152 participants, analyzing IVD health via MRI and degeneration grading.
- Upright bipedal loading (mostly running) showed a positive association with IVD health (Hedges' g 0.31).
- Combined physical loading increased the odds of IVD degeneration via reduced signal intensity (odds ratio 2.80).
- The certainty of evidence was graded as very low for running and low for combined physical loading effects.
- Prospective running interventions are suggested to further examine causal effects on IVD health.