Bed rest for sciatica?

BACKGROUND: Potentially disabling postural headache occurs after dural puncture in 1-70% of patients. It has been suggested that such headaches may be less common if patients routinely have a period of bed rest or receive supplementary fluids after the procedure. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects on post dural puncture headache of a period of bed rest versus early mobilisation, of different positions during a period of bed rest, and of administering supplementary fluids after the procedure. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (Cochrane Library, Issue 4, 2000), MEDLINE (January 1994-December 1998), and EMBASE (January 1980-December 1998). We also searched the reference lists of articles identified electronically, and contacted trial authors for information about other potentially relevant studies. Date of the most recent search: December 2000. SELECTION CRITERIA: We sought randomised, unconfounded trials, among all types of patients, that compared the effects on post-dural puncture headache of: bed rest versus early mobilisation; head-down tilt versus horizontal or prone versus supine positions during bed rest; or the administration of supplementary fluids versus control. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: One reviewer extracted data from the reports of all trials considered eligible for inclusion. The authors of included studies were invited to check the information extracted and provide any details that were unavailable in the published reports. Intention-to-treat analyses were performed. MAIN RESULTS: Eleven trials among 1723 patients compared either bed rest with immediate mobilisation or a longer versus a shorter period of bed rest. There was a non-significant relative increase in the odds of the primary outcome of postural headache among patients allocated more rather than less bed rest (196/639 [31%] bed rest versus 169/615 [27%] early mobilisation; odds ratio [OR] 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.94 to 1.55). Analyses confined to the methodologically most rigorous trials gave similar results. Only two trials among 126 patients compared different positions during bed rest. No statistically significant differences were found, but small numbers made the comparisons imprecise. One trial among 100 patients assessed fluid supplementation. Again, the numbers of patients and outcome events were small, and indicated the possibility of both reduced and increased postural headache with additional fluids. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: There is no good evidence from randomised trials to suggest that routine bed rest after dural puncture is beneficial. The role of fluid supplementation in the prevention of post-dural puncture headache remains uncertain.

Bed Rest↗

PubMed2002

Advice to stay active as a single treatment for low back pain and sciatica.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain is one of the most common conditions managed in primary care. Restricted activity, rest, and symptomatic analgesics are the most commonly prescribed treatment for low back pain and sciatica. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of advice to stay active as single treatment for patients with low back pain. SEARCH STRATEGY: Computerised searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Sport, The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Musculoskeletal Group's Trials Register and Scisearch, and scanning of reference lists from relevant articles were undertaken. Relevant studies were also traced by contacting authors. Date of the most recent searches: December 1998. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included all randomised trials or quasi-randomised trials where the study population consisted of adult patients with low back pain or sciatica, in which one comparison group was advised to stay active. The main outcomes of interest were pain, functional status, recovery and return to work. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently selected trials for inclusion, assessed the validity of included trials and extracted data. Investigators were contacted to collect missing data or for clarification when needed. MAIN RESULTS: Four trials, with a total of 491 patients, were included. Advice to stay active was compared to advice to rest in bed in all trials. Two trials were assessed to have low risk of bias and two to have moderate to high risk of bias. The results were heterogeneous. Results from one high quality trial of patients with acute simple LBP found small differences in functional status [Weighted Mean Difference (on a 0-100 scale) 6.0 (95% CI: 1.5, 10.5)] and length of sick leave [WMD 3.4 days (95% CI: 1.6, 5.2)] in favour of staying active compared to advice to stay in bed for two days. The other high quality trial compared advice to stay active with advice to rest in bed for 14 days for patients with sciatic syndrome, and found no differences between the groups. One of the high quality trials also compared advice to stay active with exercises for patients with acute simple LBP, and found improvement in functional status and reduction in sick leave in favour of advice to stay active. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: The best available evidence suggests that advice to stay active alone has small beneficial effects for patients with acute simple low back pain, and little or no effect for patients with sciatica. There is no evidence that advice to stay active is harmful for either acute low back pain or sciatica. If there is no major difference between advice to stay active and advice to rest in bed, and there is potential harmful effects of prolonged bed rest, then it is reasonable to advise people with acute low back pain and sciatica to stay active. These conclusions are based on single trials.

Bed Rest↗