Back pain Physical activity better than bed rest

Not too careful: Bed rest can increase back pain

The number of people who suffer from back pain every now and then rises and rises. Affected then often tend to spare themselves. But that is wrong in most cases. Health experts recommend patient physical activity. Exercise can help against the pain. Bed rest, on the other hand, can strengthen it.

Volksleiden backache

Back pain has become a true folk disease. Patients are often advised to withhold physical discomfort and prefer to lie down in bed or in the hot tub. However, according to health experts, it is wrong to be overprotective with back pain. Rather, it is important to strengthen the back by exercise and to relieve the symptoms.

Almost every German citizen has to fight from time to time with back pain. To spare oneself is in most cases the wrong way. Health experts advise sufferers to move. (Image: Viacheslav Iakobchuk / fotolia.com)

Complaints can have different causes

Back pain in many cases does not go back to a serious illness, it is not always the cross itself to blame.

Our psyche is often hidden behind the pain.

Also, lack of exercise, stress and tension are common causes of low back pain.

Persons who are too concerned should not take too much care. The German Society for Orthopedics and Traumatology (DGOU) and the Professional Association for Orthopedics and Traumatology (BVOU) point out this in a joint press release.

Day of back health

On 15 March 2018, DGOU and BVOU refer to the National Health Insurance Guideline on Non-specific Low Back Pain (NVL) as a version for patients on the occasion of the Day of Back Health.

The Patient Guideline informs those affected about how to treat and treat low back pain from a medical perspective.

"Patients often search for trusted sources on the Internet. With the patient guideline, they gain insight into the medical procedure for back pain. However, the guideline can not replace the treating physicians, "said DGOU Secretary General Prof. Bernd Kladny.

X-rays are often unnecessary

The patient guideline is aimed at people with low back pain, where there is no evidence of a dangerous cause or pathologically altered structures as a cause - this is called non-specific back pain.

When low back pain occurs acutely, patients often hope for safety through an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, imaging diagnostics is initially superfluous for non-specific low back pain.

Nevertheless, such complaints are often far too early and unnecessarily X-rayed, experts criticize.

"If there are no indications of dangerous or specific causes of low back pain such as fractures, infections or herniated discs, symptomatic treatment and exercise help," explains BVOU President Dr. med. Johannes Flechtenmacher.

"X-rays or MRI scans bring no benefit at the beginning. A conversation with the patient and a careful physical examination are much more important. "

Recommendations in generally understandable language

The Patient Guideline translates the scientific recommendations of the NVL formulated for doctors into a generally understandable language. Behind non-specific back pain is rarely a serious disease.

In 60 to 85 percent of all cases, the reason for the pain is not clear. According to the experts, stress, lack of exercise, tight muscles, but also mental stress can trigger the problems. The pain disappears on its own within a few weeks.

"It is important to keep moving even with back pain," Dr. Matthias Psczolla, specialist in orthopedics, physical and rehabilitative medicine, manual medicine and special pain therapy.

"Because moderate exercise strengthens the back muscles, lubricates the joints and massages the intervertebral discs. This is important for a healthy back. Muscles, vertebrae, intervertebral discs, joints and ligaments have to work together perfectly so that the back can move well and work. Bed rest, on the other hand, is harmful because it can increase the discomfort. "

The main recommendations of the patient's guideline for low back pain:

Restrained diagnostics: In the absence of "red flags" as a warning of a dangerous disease, the use of imaging techniques should only be tested if the pain persists for more than four to six weeks.

Exercise instead of bed rest: Doctors should ask patients for physical activity and advise against bed rest. Because the muscles are spared, they quickly become weak. Any kind of exercise is helpful in recovery.

Painkillers: If low back pain is so severe that those affected take a restrain, pain relieving medication can help. They can help you so that pain is not felt so much and so important movement is possible.

Respect the psyche and social environment: The first contact with a doctor should discuss the stress on the patient's personal environment, difficulties with the family or the workplace so that the back pain does not become chronic.

Massage, Acupuncture & Co .: Massage and acupuncture are considered as methods that promote more passive behavior. They should therefore not be used or only in conjunction with activating measures.

Chronic Pain - Combined Treatment: If a low back pain does not improve after a few weeks, different treatment approaches should be combined. The focus remains on the movement, in addition psychological therapy offers, medication pain treatment and measures for stress management can play a role. (Ad)