When you are experiencing low back pain, your first instinct may be to crawl to bed. But after reviewing several studies, researchers confirmed that staying active is usually the best to keep your back healthy.
The studies only included patients with acute low back pain, lasting less than 6 weeks, from unidentified sources (excluding patients with pain from fracture, inflammatory joint disease, osteoporosis, infection, etc.).
Pain level and ability to function were compared at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after the initial recommendation of either normal activity or bed rest.
A ) Patients with back pain but no sciatica:
This group of patients experienced less pain at 4 weeks and at 12 weeks, whether or not they were at bed rest or active.
The group of patients who stayed active showed a higher reduction of back pain. The difference in pain level between the two groups was not substantial. However, at both time points the ability to function was substantially greater in the group of patients who stayed active.
B ) Patients with back pain and sciatica:
From the group of patients with sciatica, there was little to no difference between the set of patients that were put on bed rest and the set that remained active, in terms of pain reduction or ability to function after 4 or 12 weeks.
Conclusion:
The available evidence neither supports nor refuses that advice to stay active is better than resting in bed for people with sciatica. However, considering that bed rest is associated with potential harmful side effects, we think it is reasonable to advise people with sciatica to stay active.