These are selections from the monthly bulletins we mail to our referring physicians, prescribers, discharge planners, and other healthcare professionals. If you refer to physical therapy near one of our locations and would like to receive these bulletins by mail, please contact us and ask to be added to the mail list.
Most cases of low-back pain resolve in four weeks, but up to 77% recur without treatment. Three of four patients presenting to primary care with low-back pain are already in a recurring pain pattern. If recovery is considered the cessation of serious back pain for a year, less than half of patients recover spontaneously.
Patients advised to stay active prove 40% more likely to have complete recovery. Back to Action offers hand therapy and many other specialty treatments.
Research has long shown that teaching patients self-care does not save money and does not improve outcomes, but a timely physical therapy referral does improve outcomes while saving money or remaining cost neutral.
Most patients can avoid surgery with PT alone if the tear is of atraumatic onset, full thickness, or less than 50% thickness.
Over the age of 70, bed rest is associated with a major new disability in one-third of cases. Prescribing physical therapy after periods of prolonged rest may protect against geriatric decline.
