‘If you have back pain, you need bedrest until it improves’ – myth or fact.

According to Study Finds writes that The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center systematically reviewed a large volume of the available data on the treatment of back pain. From this review, the American College of Physicians developed the guideline: Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain.

Given that most patients with acute or subacute low back pain improve over time regardless of treatment, clinicians and patients should select non-pharmacologic treatment with superficial heat, massage, acupuncture, or spinal manipulation. If pharmacologic treatment is desired, clinicians and patients should select non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, which are drugs in the ibuprofen family) or skeletal muscle relaxants.

For patients with chronic low back pain, clinicians and patients should initially select non-pharmacologic treatment with exercise, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction, tai chi, yoga, motor control exercise, progressive relaxation, electromyography biofeedback, low-level laser therapy, operant therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or spinal manipulation.

Nothing within the recommendations advises limiting activity – exercise is even encouraged. “The more you don’t use your muscles, the stiffer you will get,”says Study Finds.

Source: Study Finds