Staying Active > Bed Rest - Doctors used to advise patients to stay home and rest their pain away. - This kills the opportunity to release exercise-induced analgesia. Arthritis Does Not = Pain - Arthritic changes shown in scans are never a direct cause of pain. - Many with arthritis have no back pain, and people without arthritis can have back pain. Modify Activity, Don't Avoid It - Adapt exercises to respect current symptoms and reduce chance of flare-ups 24-48hrs after. - The goal is to gradually load and move the spine to work back to all activities. MRIs Show Age and Adaptations, Not Damage - When there's non-traumatic musculoskeletal pain, MRIs are more often than not contra-indicated. - A thorough subjective and objective examination is more valuable.