Should I Rest with Back Pain?

I was once told in my early twenties that lying flat on the wooden lounge floor would solve my back pain. Whilst it felt fine when I was lying there, getting back up was a completely different story, and I needed some assistance!

People are often told to rest when they have back pain, but is that really the best thing to do?

Generally, the Answer is No

For most muscular back pain, movement is one of the best things you can do.

When muscles become tight or go into spasm, gentle movement can help reduce tension, improve circulation, and encourage the body to relax. Adding some slow, deep breathing can also help calm the nervous system and reduce the body's protective response.

The key is to find movements that feel comfortable and stay within your tolerance levels.

Small, gentle movements help your body regain confidence. When your brain learns that a movement is safe and doesn't cause harm, it becomes less protective and allows you to move more freely. Over time, those small movements can gradually become bigger and more comfortable.

This is one of the reasons we prescribe exercises. They are designed to:

• Speed up recovery

• Improve movement

• Help your body regain confidence

• Give you strategies to use if your back starts to twinge again in the future

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Why Rest Can Sometimes Slow Recovery

Whilst it may seem logical to stay completely still, prolonged rest can actually make things worse.

The longer we avoid movement, the stiffer our joints can become and the weaker our muscles may feel. This can leave us feeling even more uncomfortable when we eventually try to return to normal activities.

That doesn't mean pushing through severe pain or carrying on as normal regardless. It means finding the right balance between resting when needed and keeping the body gently moving.

When the Advice May Be Different

There are times when seeking professional advice is particularly important.

If your pain is accompanied by:

• Pins and needles

• Tingling sensations

• Numbness

• Pain travelling down the leg or arm

• Loss of bowel and or bladder control

• Loss of sensation to the saddle area.

The advice may be different depending on the cause of your symptoms.

Similarly, if your pain follows a fall, accident, sporting injury, or other trauma, it is important to get appropriate advice as there may be injuries that require further assessment.

The Bottom Line

For most episodes of simple muscular back pain, complete bed rest is rarely the answer.

Gentle movement, appropriate exercises, and gradually returning to normal activities can often help recovery more than lying still and waiting for the problem to pass.

As always, if you are unsure about your symptoms, or if the pain is severe, persistent, or associated with other symptoms, seek professional advice.

After all, I can confirm from personal experience that spending hours lying on a hard wooden floor is not always the miracle cure it's made out to be! 😄