Published: 09 October 1999 Getting out of bed will help you get
better quicker New evidence suggests that the best way to
recover from a range of medical complaints and surgical
operations from bad backs to heart attacks is to get out of bed
as soon as you can. Resting in bed in such cases has few
benefits and can be harmful according to a study by a University
of Queensland research team. Chris Allen, a science graduate who
is completing the third year of the University's Graduate
Medical Course, questioned the effectiveness of bed-rest as a
treatment for many medical conditions. With the encouragement of
Professor Chris Del Mar and Associate Professor Paul Glasziou,
from the University's Centre for General Practice, Mr Allen
systematically probed the worlds medical research records
looking for evidence. The outcome was startling. "Far from being
of any benefit, resting in bed for long periods can actually be
harmful, " Mr Allen said. "I studied reports of 5,777 patients
and there's just no evidence that res