Bedrest as a medical} | group1 = General | list1 = | group2 = Physician specialties | list2 = | group3 = [[Medical speciamedical treatment refers to staying in bed day and night as a treatment for an illnessIllness (sometimes referred to as ill-health) can be defined as a state of poor health.illness or medical condition, especially when prescribed or chosen rather than resulting from severe prostration or imminent death. Even though most patients in hospitals spend most of their time in the hospital beds, bedrest more often refers to an extended period of recumbence at home. It does not necessarily mean one must actually remain in a prone position indefinitely.

As a treatment, bedrest is mentioned in the earliest medical writings. Its popularity and perceived efficacy have varied greatly over the centuries. In the 19th century, "taking to bed" and becoming an "invalid" for an indefinite period of time was a culturally accepted response to some of the adversities of life. In the middle of the twentieth century, bedrest was still a standard treatment for rheumatic feverRheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease which may develop after a Group A streptococcal infection (such as strep throat or scarlet fever) and can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain.rheumatic fever as well as markedly high blood pressureHypertension, commonly referred to as "high blood pressure", is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated. While it is formally called arterial hypertension, the word "hypertension" without a qualifier usually refers to arterial hypertension. Hypertension has been associated with a higher risk of heart attack or stroke. Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial ...high blood pressure.

Prolonged bedrest carries some medical risks such as demineralizationOsteopenia is a decrease in bone mineral density that can be a precursor condition to osteoporosis. However, not every person diagnosed with osteopenia will develop osteoporosis. More specifically, osteopenia is defined as : * T score less than -1.0 and greater ...demineralization of the bonesBones are rigid organs that form part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. Bones function to move, support, and protect the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bones come in a variety of shapes and have a complex internal and external structure, allowing them to be lightweight yet strong and hard, while fulfilling their many other functions. One of the types of tissues that makes up bones is the mineralized ...bones and atrophyAtrophy is the partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body. Causes of atrophy include poor nourishment, poor circulation, loss of hormonal support, loss of nerve supply to the target organ, disuse or lack of exercise or disease intrinsic to the tissue itself. Hormonal and nerve inputs that maintain an organ or body part are referred to as trophic. Atrophy is a general physiological process of reabsorption and breakdown of tissues, involving ...atrophy of the musclesMuscle (from Latin musculus "little mouse" Definition and origin of the word 'muscle') is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. It is classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscle Retrieved on 17 Feb 2006., and its function is to produce force and cause motion, either locomotion or movement within internal organs. Much of muscle contraction occurs without conscious thought and is necessary for survival, like the contraction of the heart, or peristalsis ...muscles, as well as economic and social costs, and is much less commonly prescribed today. Preterm laborChildbirth (also called labour, birth, partus or parturition) is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the delivery of one or more newborn infants from the mother's uterus The process of human childbirth is categorized in 3 stages of labour. In the first stage, the uterus begins rhythmic contractions which steadily increase in strength and frequency, gradually widening and thinning the cervix. During the second stage, ...labor with threatened miscarriageMiscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the natural or spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or the fetus is incapable of surviving, generally defined in humans at a gestation of prior to 20 weeks. Miscarriage is the most common complication of early pregnancy. The medical term "spontaneous abortion" is used in reference to miscarriages because the medical term "abortion" refers to any terminated ...miscarriage remains one of the few conditions for which bedrest remains a standard treatment.

Women pregnant with twinsTwins in animal biology is a form of multiple birth in which the mother gives birth to two offspring from the same pregnancy, some of the same sex, others of the opposite. Triplets refers to three offspring from the same pregnancy. The general term for more than one offspring from the same pregnancy is multiples. A fetus alone in the womb is called a singleton. Human twins are two individuals ...twins or higher-order multiples are at higher risk for preterm labor, preeclampsiaPre-eclampsia (US: preeclampsia) is a medical condition where hypertension arises in pregnancy (pregnancy-induced hypertension) in association with significant protein in the urine. Its cause remains unclear, although the principal cause appears to be a substance or substances from the placenta causing endothelial dysfunction in the maternal blood vessels.Drife JO, Magowan (eds). Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology, chapter 39, pp 367-370. ISBN 0-7020-1775-2. While blood ...preeclampsia (toxemiaToxemia is the presence of toxins in the blood. It may refer to: * Bacterial toxins - See: Bacteremia, or * Abnormal protein metabolism related to pregnancy - See: Pre-eclampsia Seven in one hundred women suffer from this disease, which can be fatal to both mother and baby.toxemia), and other pregnancy complications, thus bedrest is common in these cases. About 50% of women pregnant with twins will be on some form of bedrest for at least part of their pregnancy. Recent studies have shown that routine bedrest in twin pregnancies (bedrest in the absence of complications) does not improve outcomes, however bedrest is almost always prescribed for women carrying triplets or more.