EVER since he first stood upright, man has been a martyr to his back. We have all experienced back ache: for the lucky ones, this discomfort amounts to a few twinges caused by an afternoon weeding the garden. The unlucky ones are confined to bed by debilitating pain.

A bad back of whatever sort seems stubbornly immune to the advances of medical science. Key hole surgery, lasers, all the paraphernalia of modern health care can do remarkably little for the back sufferer.

The cure-all solution has always been rest. Take a few days off, lie down, resist heavy lifting at all costs. For this reason, the bad back has become the favoured excuse of the malingerer. These lumbar louts, who put their back out the moment work appears imminent, tar genuine sufferers with the same brush.

But their party may soon be over. A new report by York University experts turns the accepted wisdom on its head. Those with a troublesome back should get off their sick beds and walk, researchers concluded.

This advice smacks of common sense. It is the sort of brisk, no-nonsense message that mothers are apt to give their ailing children: get up and about, get into the fresh air, you will soon feel better. It might also provide the antidote to a modern lifestyle which takes its toll on backs. From car seat to desk to armchair, our spines rarely enjoy the support they need.

Today's research concurs with a report last year from the Faculty of Occupational Medicine. It found that the longer people spend at home with back pain, the less likely they are to return to their jobs. With back problems accounting for an estimated 50 million lost working days a year, the new approach might also tone up the economy.

Some people suffer from specific back complaints that will always require complete rest. But for many others, a return to activity might be just what they need to get back on track.

Updated: 11:19 Monday, February 05, 2001