[Local and general rest in the treatment of common low back pain]

The routine prescription of rest for patients with common low back pain is now widely questioned. Local rest using lumbar corsets and back supports is useful only in case of acute or extreme low back pain, in particular if trauma is involved. In chronic low back pain, such support should be used only to facilitate pursuit of an at-risk professional activity. In acute low back pain, general rest should be indicated by the intensity of pain and not prescribed as a treatment itself. General prolonged rest in acute low back pain has now been demonstrated to entail nefarious long-term effects. In the patient with chronic low back pain, general rest will favour loss of physical condition and exacerbate the difficulties socio-professional rehabilitation.