[Conservative therapy of low back pain. Part 1: Immobilization]

The most common treatment for low back pain is bedrest, the purpose of which is to minimize pain caused by movement. Randomized studies have shown that this form of treatment is of use only over the short term. Whenever possible, the patient should be mobilized again after only 2 days. Long-term immobilization has a number of disadvantages. Lumbar corsets may be considered a form of partial immobilization, and are usually not recommended for unspecific back pain. As initial treatment of acute back pain, short term bedrest with proper positioning of the sufferer, possibly in combination with drug treatment can be employed.