Should You Rest or Move with Back Pain? Cary Chiropractors Weigh In

Back pain can be debilitating. When it flares up, many people’s first instinct is to stop moving and stay in bed—but is that actually the best strategy? According to leading chiropractors Dr. Abbie Swank and Dr. Parker Neill of Swank Chiropractic Sports Medicine & Wellness in Cary, NC, the answer might surprise you.

While short-term rest may provide relief, staying in bed too long can actually delay recovery and worsen stiffness. Let’s explore why movement—under expert guidance—is often the smarter path toward healing.

Why Bed Rest Isn’t Always the Best Strategy for Acute Back Pain

Research shows that prolonged bed rest can make back pain worse, not better. While lying down may reduce discomfort for a day or two, it can also:

• Weaken stabilizing muscles
• Reduce circulation to healing tissues
• Increase stiffness in the spine and hips
• Delay return to normal activities

“We see it all the time—patients who avoid movement for too long actually take longer to recover,” says Dr. Abbie Swank. “Your spine needs motion to stay healthy. That’s why chiropractic care focuses on restoring proper joint movement.”

External Source:
Harvard Health – Why Bed Rest Isn’t Best for Your Back
https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/bed-rest-for-back-pain-a-little-bit-will-do-you

Movement Matters: Safe Ways to Stay Active

Gentle, controlled movement is crucial when recovering from back pain. This doesn’t mean hitting the gym, but rather engaging in guided activity that promotes circulation and joint health.

At Swank Chiropractic, we often recommend:

• Chiropractic Adjustments to restore joint motion
• Therapeutic exercises to maintain core strength
• Low-impact activities like walking or aquatic therapy
• Spinal decompression to relieve disc pressure without strain

How Swank Chiropractic in Cary, NC Can Help

Board-Certified Sports Chiropractic Care

Whether your back pain stems from a sports injury, poor posture, or disc-related issues, Dr. Parker Neill, a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician®, offers evidence-based care tailored to your needs. His goal? To help you move better—faster.

Personalized Spinal Decompression

For conditions like herniated or bulging discs, non-surgical spinal decompression using the FDA-cleared Triton DTS table can safely relieve nerve pressure and promote healing.

Internal Link:
Learn more about spinal decompression here:
https://www.swankchiro.com/services/spinal-decompression

Meet the Chiropractors Leading Your Recovery

Dr. Abbie Swank

As a former collegiate athlete and Palmer College of Chiropractic graduate, Dr. Swank understands how vital movement is for healing. Her integrative approach blends hands-on chiropractic care with custom rehabilitation plans.

Dr. Parker Neill

Certified in both sports chiropractic and dry needling, Dr. Neill brings elite-level expertise to every patient—especially those recovering from sports-related injuries or persistent back issues.

Internal Link:
More about our doctors:
https://www.swankchiro.com/about

Takeaway: Don’t Stay Stuck in Bed

If you’re asking, “It hurts to move—should I just stay in bed with back pain?”—the answer is clear:

Short rest may help. But movement is medicine.

With expert guidance from the team at Swank Chiropractic Sports Medicine in Cary, you don’t have to navigate back pain alone. Our evidence-based care will help you move forward—safely and confidently.

Schedule your visit today:
https://www.swankchiro.com/contact