To Rest or Move
Another patient, this month, thought bedrest was a good idea. Many people believe it is a great thing to rest after an injury. In fact, before 1980, most doctors actually prescribed 2 weeks bedrest for patients. Common conditions that used to require bedrest were back pain, bone fractures, heart attacks, surgeries and pregnancy complications. Beginning in the 80's, hospital staff were tasked with getting patients up the day after most surgeries, at least to a chair, and hopefully to the bathroom. Physical Therapists were used to get even the hardest patients up. We now understand that lying flat all day actually weakens your body. Muscle loss, blood clots, bone thinning and weakened lungs can all result. So, calling for Physical Therapy, sooner rather than later, can speed your recovery and prevent complications.
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Allen C, Glasziou P, Mar C
Bed rest: a potentially harmful treatment needing more careful evaluation The Lancet, 354, 1229-1233 (1999) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK67917/
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Sitting Disease
The above Bedrest blog, made me need to be more specific about what moving less does in our everyday life. Do you feel like you are moving less than you used to? Do you sit more than you used to? Come back to see what the research say about it.......
