Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
A huge review of the medical literature showed that there
is no evidence that bed rest helps you to heal faster from any
medical condition. During World War II, American soldiers were
drafted and sent to do their basic training at the Great Lakes
Naval Training Center. A major epidemic of flu occurred affecting
almost all the troops. Half of the soldiers were kept in bed, while
the other half stayed in the vigorous exercise of basic training.
Both groups required the same amount of time to recover,
although those forced to undergo the rigorous demands of basic
training complained more.
Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia
searched the medical literature from 1966 to 1999 and found only
39 studies testing whether bed rest benefits any medical
condition. Twenty-four studies showed that bed rest was of little
or no benefit in preventing side effects of medical procedures
such as spinal anesthesia, spinal fluid withdrawal, and multiple x
ray procedures. Fifteen studies showed no benefit in treating
medical conditions such as low back pain, spontaneous labor,
high blood pressure during pregnancy, uncomplicated heart
attacks, rheumatoid arthritis or infectious hepatitis. So the next
time you feel sick, stay in bed if you like, but it probably won't
help you recover faster.
May 1, 2006