Bed Rest - Adverse Effects

Adverse Effects

Further information: Lying_(position)#Long-term risks

Prolonged bed rest has long been known to have deleterious physiological effects, such as muscle atrophy and other forms of deconditioning such as arterial constriction. Besides lack of physical exercise it was shown that another important factor is that the hydrostatic pressure (caused by gravity) acts anomalously, resulting in altered distribution of body fluids. Even physical exercise in bed fails to address certain adverse effects.

It is also a major cause of thrombosis, mainly by reducing blood flow in the legs.

For details on the potential effects associated with bed rest see Potential Complications of Immobility

Read more about this topic:  Bed Rest

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