Lower back pain is one of the most common health issues in the world, affecting millions of people every day. It can make simple tasks like bending, walking, or even standing feel difficult.
Now, researchers from the University of South Australia have found a surprising new way to help reduce this pain—by relearning the kinds of movements we used as babies, like crawling, rolling, and squatting.
In a small pilot study, the researchers tested a 12-week movement-based program called Motum on people with chronic, non-specific lower back pain. The results were promising: participants reported less pain, better balance, and more confidence in their daily movements. The study was published in the journal Musculoskeletal Science and Practice.
Motum was developed in Adelaide by a team of physical therapists. It focuses on ground-based movements and helps people retrain their basic body movements, often called motor control. These are the types of movements that help us stay stable, balanced, and confident in how we move.
The program includes hands-on physical exercises combined with simple lessons about pain and movement. It’s designed to be safe, easy to follow, and flexible enough to suit different fitness levels.
The lead researcher, Alice Farmer, who is also a Ph.D. student at the university, says many people with back pain stop moving in certain ways because they’re afraid it will make things worse.
But avoiding movement can actually make the problem worse over time, increasing pain and the risk of long-term disability. According to Farmer, this fear can trap people in a cycle of pain and inactivity.
Exercise is known to be one of the most effective and affordable ways to treat back pain. But many traditional programs don’t work for everyone. Some people find them too intense or not tailored to their needs. Motum was created to fix that.
The first month of the program includes simple movements done on the floor, like crawling and rolling, which are safe and help rebuild body control. As the program continues, participants move on to more challenging exercises, always with support from trained therapists who adjust the activities to match each person’s ability.
Back pain is a major global health problem. It affects more than 600 million people around the world and is the top reason for years lived with disability. In Australia alone, treating back pain costs the health care system over $4.8 billion every year.
Participants in the Motum program gave very positive feedback. Many said the gradual build-up of exercises helped them feel confident and safe. They also appreciated the support from instructors, who made real-time adjustments to suit their needs.
Some even said they now move with more awareness and apply what they learned in their everyday lives. They no longer worry as much about injuring their back again.
Dr. Jacinta Brinsley, another researcher on the team, says these early results are exciting. Programs like Motum, which focus on basic movement and body control rather than just strength or endurance, could offer a better way to manage chronic pain.
She explains that chronic pain is complicated, and people are more likely to stick with a program if it feels right for them. Motum did just that—people enjoyed it, felt safe, and saw real changes.
Although larger studies are still needed, this early research shows that returning to basic movements might be the key to helping people with chronic back pain move more freely and regain control of their lives.
If you care about pain, please read studies about how to manage your back pain, and Krill oil could improve muscle health in older people.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to live pain-free with arthritis, and results showing common native American plant may help reduce diarrhea and pain.
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