Back pain: Should I rest or keep active?

I’ve had a couple of episodes of lower back pain over the last year which lasted for a few weeks each time. 

If it happens again, is it best to rest or try and keep active? Should I visit my GP?

Lower back pain is common, most people will experience it at some point in their lives and it will usually get better within 12 weeks. For the majority of people there is no specific underlying cause — the exact cause may be unclear.