A new study from The Lancet shows that a walking program can help people avoid recurring back pain.

Researchers followed 701 adults in their fifties who had recently suffered from lower back pain. They put half of them on a walking program and found that those participants went nearly twice as long without another bout of lower back pain.

“Even if we stand for work or are very active throughout our day or exercise regularly, most of us are spending the majority of our time sitting and that is the number one culprit why so many people are suffering from neck and back pain,” said Alicia Hirscht,of Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists.

The study’s lead author says structured exercise routines and one-on-one sessions with physical therapists are standard treatment for back pain, but walking is more accessible and that may be the main reason it works so well.