Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of bed rest on acute nonspecific low back pain(ANLBP).Methods87 cases were randomly divided into bed rest group (42 cases) and free activity group (45 cases).The bed rest group would be proper activity indoor and step up activity outdoor after absolute in bed for a week.The free activity group would be prescribed free activity.At the same time,all of them received physiotherapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).The visual analogous scale (VAS) were measured before and 2 weeks after treatment.The Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ) were measured before and 2,6 weeks after treatment.ResultsThe difference of VAS and RMDQ scores between these 2 groups were not significant before treatment (P>0.05),but were significant 2 weeks after treatment(P<0.05).Further more,the difference of RMDQ scores between these 2 groups were not significant 6 weeks after treatment (P>0.05).ConclusionThe bed rest about patients could not promote,but delay the improvement of the pain and disability in the early period or later period recovery of ANLBP.

Key words: acute nonspecific low back pain (ANLBP), bed rest, visual analogous scale (VAS), Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ)