Journal article
Association of proximity to greenspaces and back pain in older men and women: Analysis of data from two cohort studies
PM & R, Forthcoming
19 Aug 2026
PMID: 42615497
Abstract
Access to greenspace (eg, parks) may improve aspects of physical and mental health that are known biopsychosocial contributors to back pain. However, little is known about the association between access to greenspace and back pain.
This cross-sectional analysis used data from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) and the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (MrOS) to investigate the association of proximity to greenspace with back pain among community-dwelling older adults living in Portland, Oregon, USA. Geospatial software characterized proximity to greenspace (distance from residential address to nearest park) into three categories thought to be relevant for walkability among older adults: <0.125, 0.125-0.5, and >0.5 mile. We estimated the crude prevalence of any back pain (yes/no) during the past year by proximity-to-greenspace categories and their association as gender-specific prevalence ratios (aPRs) using log-binomial regression models adjusted for age, race, education, and neighborhood socioeconomic status.
Participants were 1839 SOF women (mean age = 74.6 years, SD = 5.3) and 422 MrOS men (mean age = 73.7 years, SD = 5.8). Living >0.5 mile from a park, compared to living <0.125 mile, was associated with a greater prevalence of back pain among women (crude prevalence: 71.1% vs. 61.6%, aPR = 1.15 [1.02-1.29]) but not men (64.2% vs. 76.4%, aPR = 0.82 [0.66-1.02]). Sensitivity analyses that used more severe back pain phenotypes provided heterogenous results.
In this cross-sectional study, living near a park was associated with a modestly lower prevalence of back pain for women but not men. Large prospective studies are needed to further evaluate whether living close to parks, or other greenspaces, is associated with back pain in older adults.
Metrics
2 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Association of proximity to greenspaces and back pain in older men and women: Analysis of data from two cohort studies
- Creators
- Eric J Roseen (Corresponding Author) - Boston Medical CenterAlyssa Wong - Boston Medical CenterChristina X Mu - University of California, San FranciscoStephanie Harrison - California Pacific Medical CenterAron Downie - Macquarie UniversityCasper Nim - University of Southern DenmarkDavid T McNaughton - Queensland HealthHazel Jenkins - Macquarie UniversityJames J Young - University Health NetworkJan Hartvigsen - University of Southern DenmarkJessica J Wong - Western UniversityMorris Kahere - NHS Ayrshire and ArranSoomi Lee - Pennsylvania State UniversityKatie L Stone - University of California, San FranciscoKristine Ensrud - University of MinnesotaHoward A Fink - Geriatric Research Education and Clinical CenterMarcia Pescador Jimenez - Boston UniversityYvonne L Michael - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- PM & R, Forthcoming
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 13
- Grant note
- U01AG042168 / NIA NIH HHS U01AR066160 / NIA NIH HHS K23AT010487 / NCCIH NIH HHS U01AG042145 / NIA NIH HHS UL1TR000128 / NIA NIH HHS F31HL165898 / NHLBI NIH HHS U01AG042143 / NIA NIH HHS U01AG042140 / NIA NIH HHS R01AG066671 / NIA NIH HHS U01AG027810 / NIA NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Urban Health Collaborative; Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001853065300001
- Other Identifier
- 991022202068304721