ABR

Absolute bed rest

Absolute bed rest (ABR) is a hospital term referring to a strict medical order where a patient is required to remain in bed at all times, typically in a supine or limited position, with no standing, sitting, or physical activity permitted. It’s usually prescribed to manage conditions like severe trauma, unstable cardiovascular status, or high-risk pregnancies to minimize strain and prevent complications.

While ABR may help in reducing stress on the body during acute illness, prolonged bed rest can have negative consequences such as muscle atrophy, deep vein thrombosis, and deconditioning. In practice, the term sometimes connotes an extreme level of immobilization, but in modern care, there’s growing emphasis on early mobilization whenever feasible.