Back and Leg Pain – Stay Active

Evidence continues to grow regarding the negative effects of bed rest for low back pain sufferers. In a review of randomized studies up to March 2003, a group of researchers re-evaluated findings for studies comparing bed rest to staying active in patients with low back pain and/or sciatica (leg pain). Their findings: For people with acute low back pain, advice to rest in bed is less effective than advice to stay active. For patients with sciatica (leg pain), there is little or no difference between advice to rest in bed and advice to stay active.