07/31/2025
Prolonged rest ๐ด can actually make back pain worse or last longer.
Hereโs why:
1. Increased sensitivity.
โResting too long can cause your nervous system to become more sensitive to pain (we call this central sensitization). That means your back may start reacting to movements that arenโt necessarily harmful, but the nervous system can become so hyperactive that we can deem these movements as dangerous - keeping us in a pain cycle a lot longer ๐
2. Stiffness, mobility loss, and general deconditioning.
โThis can lead to increased discomfort and contribute to fear of movement.
3. Fear avoidance behavior.
โThe longer you rest, the more you may start fearing movement, which delays recovery. โ๏ธResearch shows that fear of movement is a MAJOR factor in chronic low back pain.
So what do we do instead?
โ
Respect pain, load modification, find gentle movements that feel โless badโ, and work with a PT who understands movement sensitivity and can guide your return to activity safely.
