Arizona Republic
Thursday, October 28, 1999
JUMP STARTS - WELL WORDS
Page 1 - Section HL
Laying bid rest to rest
Bed rest is overrated as a treatment for ailments from heart attack to back pain, according to an analysis of 39 studies involvIng more than 5,000 patients. Australian researchers concluded, that, overall, there was no evidence that bed rest had any significant beneficial effect when used as a treatment or when used after surgery. The findings support modem recommendations that bed rest should no longer be offered for acute low back pain, myocardial infarction (heart attack), pulmonary tuberculosis or acute infectious hepatitis.