Persistent lower back pain or knee pain that bothers you every time you climb stairs. Even when told "you should move your body," taking that first step is not easy for many.

Pain prevents movement. Moving might cause pain again. For those with such concerns, research that reinterprets exercise as a treatment for pain is gaining attention.

On September 28, 2026, Germany's AD HOC NEWS highlighted an analysis from Australia's Adelaide University, introducing the analgesic effects of exercise. However, the headline "Exercise is more effective than medicine" could misinterpret the study's meaning.

This is not about asking patients to endure or make efforts. It's about how to concretely increase the treatment options available to those in pain.

What did the analysis of 220,000 people investigate?

The research by Ben Singh, Carol Maher, and others was published in the medical journal "Pain Reports" in July 2026. The university announced the research content on September 24. It is not a single large experiment that started in September, but an "umbrella review" that reevaluated existing studies.

According to the abstract of the paper, the subjects were 157 systematic reviews. It reports 2,736 randomized controlled trials included, with a total of 221,279 participants.

The analysis showed a tendency for pain to be reduced in the exercise group compared to the control group. The subjects included a variety of conditions such as lower back pain, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia. The research team rated the overall certainty of the evidence as "moderate."

The large scale is reassuring. However, the average values that summarize different diseases and exercise methods do not guarantee results for each individual patient.

"About 60% more than medicine" does not mean pain is reduced by 60%

The university announcement explained that the pain reduction from exercise was about 1.1 points when converted to a 0-10 scale. This effect was about 60% greater than the average effect of common analgesics reported in other chronic pain drug trials.

What needs to be noted here is the method of comparison.

It is not a result of directly determining the winner by dividing patients under the same conditions into "exercise only" and "medicine only." It is a number comparing average effects obtained from separate studies, influenced by differences in target patients, treatment duration, and control comparisons.

Moreover, this "60%" does not mean the patient's pain itself is reduced by 60%.

Therefore, it is not possible to conclude from this study that "medicine is unnecessary" or "just switch to exercise." It should not be used as a basis for self-judging to reduce or stop current medications, but rather as an opportunity to discuss a combination of treatments.

Potential in light exercise. However, "the less, the better" is not the case

The study observed greater effects with low-intensity exercise or programs lasting less than 12 weeks. It was noted that exercise of less than 120 minutes per week also showed effects.

For those who thought "long, strenuous training is necessary to reduce pain," this provides material to reconsider their approach.

However, this does not mean that an optimal amount of exercise common to everyone has been determined. From the results of grouping and comparing studies, it cannot be said that "exceeding 120 minutes is counterproductive" or "should stop at 12 weeks."

Exercise to reduce pain and training to improve endurance have different purposes and evaluation methods. What should be considered first is not how many minutes you can endure, but whether you can choose a method that suits your condition.

Expectations and caution on SNS—"I can exercise because there is medicine"

In the Reddit science community that introduced this study, posts welcoming the value of exercise and those concerned about the interpretation of the headline were lined up.

Positive reactions include opinions that view exercise as a form of treatment and voices appreciating the point that even light movements have meaning. It is an interpretation that not only rigorous training is exercise.

On the other hand, what stands out from the patient's side is the situation where just being recommended exercise does not solve the issue. The following is a summary of the confirmed posts in Japanese, not a verbatim translation.

・Exercise may help treatment, but it does not replace medication for all chronic pain.
・Because there is pain relief treatment, I can engage in light exercise.
・Even after receiving physical therapy, I only feel increased pain and don't know what to expect.
・There is concern that such headlines might be used to downplay patients' pain.

These are individual opinions posted in a single public thread and do not represent the overall public opinion on SNS or data indicating treatment effects. Nonetheless, they highlight issues that cannot be overlooked when applying research to everyday medical practice.

The fact that something is generally effective and whether the patient in front of you can do that exercise now are separate questions.

Turning "please exercise" into concrete support

What researchers are concerned about is the ambiguity in recommending exercise. The university announcement pointed out that exercise is not instructed as specifically as medication prescriptions and tends to end with the general advice to "stay active."

What patients need is not just repeatedly being told the value of exercise.

Which movements to choose. What level of intensity to start with. How to adjust when symptoms change. It is only when these questions can be consulted that "exercise becomes an option."

The UK's NICE also recommends exercise therapy tailored to the patient for osteoarthritis. The focus here is not for everyone to complete the same menu, but to tailor it to the condition and necessity.

For Japanese readers, it might be useful to not only ask "Can I exercise?" at the next visit but also consult with the perspective of "Which movements should I start with in my case, and when should I reconsider?"

Do not extend "just move more" to ME/CFS

The original article touches on the social burden of ME/CFS and Long COVID in addition to exercise research. However, the conclusions about exercise should not be directly applied to all the diseases mentioned in the same article.

Especially with ME/CFS, symptoms can worsen with physical activity. NICE guidelines clearly state not to recommend "more exercise" or "go to the gym" outside of programs managed by specialist teams.

The method of increasing exercise uniformly regardless of symptoms is also not recommended. Even when the individual wishes to adjust activities, it is important to understand the range that does not exacerbate symptoms and to respond flexibly with professional support.

Respecting the knowledge that "exercise benefits many people" and protecting those who may worsen with exercise must be balanced.

Towards treatment that does not blame those in pain

The question raised by this news is not whether patients should try harder.

If the effect of exercise is demonstrated, how to provide support to try it safely. What are the barriers for those who cannot engage? How to consider the next option if there is no improvement.

The choice between medicine or exercise alone cannot capture the experience shared on SNS that "I can move because there is medicine."

Exercise holds the potential to broaden approaches to dealing with pain. To truly make that potential belong to the patients, specific support tailored to each individual beyond "move more" is necessary.

Source URL

1. AD HOC NEWS (September 28, 2026)
   Introducing Germany's pain treatment and medical provision system, focusing on the analgesic effects of exercise.
   https://www.ad-hoc-news.de/wissenschaft/chronische-schmerzen-bewegung-lindert-laut-adelaide-analyse-staerker-als/70190735

2. Singh et al. "The effect of exercise on clinical pain: a systematic umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis"
   Original paper published in Pain Reports. Used to confirm research methods, target scale, exercise effects, and evidence certainty.
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13340705/

3. Adelaide University "Less is more: Exercise rivals common pain meds" (September 24, 2026)
   University research announcement. Explains about 1.1 points improvement, comparison with another drug trial, and the need for specific exercise guidance.
   https://adelaide.edu.au/about/news/2026/less-is-more--exercise-rivals-common-pain-meds/

4. Reddit r/science "Exercise rivals common pain meds"
   Public thread introducing this study. Used to confirm SNS reactions in the article, such as welcome, combination with drug therapy, and concerns about trivializing pain. Distinguished from medical evidence as it is based on personal experiences and opinions.
   https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/1woxrpg/exercise_rivals_common_pain_meds_researchers/

5. NICE "Osteoarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management" NG226
   Confirmation of recommendations for exercise therapy tailored to patients with osteoarthritis.
   https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG226/chapter/recommendations

6. NICE "Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management" NG206
   Confirmation of activity management, support by specialist teams, and recommendations to avoid uniform exercise guidance in ME/CFS.
   https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG206/chapter/recommendations