New research confirms what chiropractors have upheld for years: bed rest does not relieve back pain. What's more, prolonged bed rest may actually aggravate long-term pain syndromes and trigger osteoarthritis. That's why Dr. Christiana encourages patients with back pain to limit bed rest and resume their daily activities as soon as possible.

Bed Rest Is Ineffective

Dr. Christiana works to remain abreast of cutting-edge research on pain prevention, and to share- this information with patients. In recent years, several studies have supported the chiropractic theory that prolonged bed rest for back pain is counterproductive. For example, one report that reviewed eighteen scientific studies concluded that "a simple but fundamental change from the traditional prescription of bed rest to positive advice about staying acti ve could improve clinical outcomes and reduce the personal and social impact of back pain." (Br J Gen Pract 1997;47:647-52.)

Another study in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at 67 patients who were prescribed bed rest, 52 patients who engaged in back exercises and 67 patients who were instructed to continue their ordinary daily activities as much as possible. The subjects were re-evaluated after three weeks and again after twelve weeks. At both evaluations, the group that engaged in regular daily activities fared better than the other two cohorts. Specifically, compared with exercise or bed rest, staying active more effectively reduced pain intensity and duration - while increasing range of motion. Active patients also missed fewer days of work, compared with patients who rested in bed (N Engl J Med 1995 ;332:351-5).

Another study published in the same joumallooked at the effectiveness of bed rest for sciatica (the agonizing
leg pain that often accompanies lowback disorders). As part of the analysis, 183 people with sciatica were assigned to one of two treatments: bed rest or watchful waiting (maintaining normal activity while avoiding movements that trigger pain).

At twelve weeks, 87% of patients in both groups had improved. Rates of work absenteeism and referral for surgery were also comparable. The authors concluded that "bed rest is not a more effective therapy than watchful waiting." (N Engl J Med 199911;340:418-23.)

Bed Rest May Be Hazardous

Not only is bed rest ineffective, but it may also aggravate pain. Inactivity inhibits physical fitness, in turn restricting the immune response and laming the body's ability to heal. Prolonged immobilization causes muscles to weaken and promotes the formation of scar tissue, which may spawn future disorders of the muscles and joints. In addition, lack of movement inhibits the production of the nutritional medium that "feeds" joints called synovial fluid. Over weeks or months, a deficiency of synovial fluid may up a patient's risk of developing osteoarthritis.

The Chiropractic Solution to Back Pain

Chiropractors not only encourage patients to remain as active as possible, but they also do much more to speed healing. Dr. Christiana goes to the source of back pain, rather than merely treating symptoms.

Backache is associated with a spinal condition called vertebral subluxation. Vertebral subluxations are regions in the spine where motion is restricted or bones (vertebrae) are out of alignment. A plethora of scientific evidence links vertebral subluxations with an increased risk of back pain - as well as with a myriad of other conditions such as headache, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma and ear infection.

Doctors of chiropractic use safe and effective maneuvers called chiropractic adjustments to correct vertebral subluxations. This revolutionary approach addresses the source of the condition, rather than masking symptoms with potentially hazardous medications - or subjecting patients to the risks of surgery.

In addition to chiropractic adjustments, doctors of chiropractic frequently recommend exercises, nutritional modifications, ergonomic alterations and stress reduction techniques. The result is a comprehensive, powerful pain-busting solution.

Chiropractic: The Most Effective Back Pain Solution

A new study adds to the mounting body of evidence indicating- that chiropractic is the most effective strategy for beating backache. The study pooled data on 138 patients with low-back pain that had lasted at least six weeks. Of this group, 93 subjects received chiropractic care provided by a doctor of chiropractic and 45 underwent medical treatment provided by a family medicine physician.

Chiropractic patients were five times more likely to experience relief than were subjects under medical care. Specifically, chiropractic patients reported a 31 % improvement in pain severity, compared with a 6% improvement among medical care recipients. Although chiropractic patients reported 36% and 57% improvement in the two main categories of pain quality, medical patients withstood 29% and 26% deterioration in those same areas. In addition, chiropractic patients enjoyed a 29% drop in disability, compared with a 1 % d$cline in medical patients.

A whopping 90% of chiropractic patients were content with their overall care, compared with only 52% of medical patients. After one month, 56% of chiropractic recipients reported that their pain was better or much better, whereas 35% of medical patients said that their pain was worse or much worse.

The article concluded that "chronic low back patients treated by chiropractors show greater improvement and satisfaction at one month than patients attending family physicians." (Journal Manipulative Physiologic Therapeutics 2000:23.)