Bed rest, physiotherapy, and continuation of activities of daily living were equally effective for sciatica.

I n t e r v e n t i o n Patients were allocated to bed rest (n = 84), physiotherapy (n = 83), or continuation of ADLs (n = 83). Bed rest could be done at home or in the hospital and lasted 7 days. Physiotherapy sessions were scheduled twice weekly for 4 to 8 weeks and involved segmental mobilization, disc unloading and loading exercises, and hydrotherapy. Patients in the continuation-of-ADLs group continued their jobs, household activities, and hobbies to the best of their abilities and adjusted the intensity, frequency, and duration of these activities according to the pain they felt.