TREATING BACK PAIN WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY IS A PROVEN WINNING METHOD
Back pain is a huge problem in developed nations worldwide. It has or will affect most of us. The current estimate is that 80% of people will experience back pain at least once. It’s also expensive. Back and neck pain makes up the biggest healthcare expense in the U.S., totaling $134 billion spent in 2016.
This surprises a lot of people. Why is it so expensive? The first reason is that it’s so common. The second reason is that our current system isn’t very good at treating it. Current recommendations include starting with activity modification and active treatments like physical therapy. That’s because research has shown that early PT leads to better outcomes and lower costs.
Unfortunately, only 2% of people with back pain start with PT, and only 7% get to PT within 90 days. Studies also show that the longer it takes a patient to get started in physical therapy, the longer the episode will last beyond that point.
At the same time, a study looking at about 2.5 million people with back pain published in JAMA showed that 32.3% of these patients received imaging within 30 days of diagnosis and 35.3% received imaging without a trial of physical therapy. Both of these things go against current practice guidelines for low back pain treatment.
Multiple studies recently have proven that outcomes are better and costs are as much as 50% less if the first medical practitioner you see for back pain is a physical therapist. Getting involved in physical therapy first also has been shown to drastically reduce narcotic use and addiction.
Physical therapists are trained to look for signs of more serious illness and will refer a patient to the appropriate medical specialist if any red flags are detected upon initial evaluation. Rules vary state to state but in Pennsylvania, a physical therapist can evaluate a patient and treat them for up to 30 days without seeing a physician first. Unfortunately, this process does not apply to patients on Medicare. They must still see a physician first.
Nearly 80% of patients who see a PT first for back pain never need to see a physician at all, nor do they need any tests. Their pain generally resolves within the first 30 days. The savings to the health care industry can be significant, but better yet, patients get better quicker.
Although many of the studies referenced above focused only on back pain, additional studies involving other musculoskeletal disorders involving various body parts are demonstrating the same findings. Whether you have sprained an ankle, threw too many batting practice pitches or rode too many miles on your bike, seeing a PT as the entry portal to the medical system results in better outcomes and costs much less.
In addition to getting better faster, you will leave your physical therapist with exercises and education related to your injury that will help you stay healthy and pain-free in the future.
The amount of money wasted on medication and unnecessary testing in our country is astronomical and the outcomes of musculoskeletal injury in this country lag behind much of the rest of the developed nations in the world. We need to change our mindset as to how to best care for back pain and other musculoskeletal injuries in a more effective and efficient manner.
Think physical therapy first the next time you wake up with that nagging pain. You won’t be disappointed.