While perusing the wellness section of NYtimes.com this morning, I came across an old article that reviewed options for treatment of non specific low back pain. This article went through the “gamut” of treatments from pharmacological treatment, spinal injections, and surgeries. The whole gamut?? What happened to physical therapy? Exercise? There was a very brief mentioning of physical therapy but seriously:
Indeed, many back pain specialists are now evaluating their patients daily exercise habits and emotional stresses. The new standards are a small step, but one reflective of the growing realization that pain, in all its forms, must be approached more holistically. But realization now dawning on physicians has not yet been felt by insurers. Health plans pay for surgery, drugs and spinal injections, but rarely for long-term physical therapy, psychotherapy — or joining a gym.
Noted Dr. Portenoy, “Training people to do the right thing doesn’t necessarily work in the real world if you’re only reimbursed for interventions.”
This article is proof in the pudding; people still are not as aware as they should be about the benefits of physical therapy. The medical world still seems to be turning to pharmacological or surgical solutions. Physical therapy is not only successful at helping to treat non specific low back pain, but also is much more conservative financially (the average cost of spinal fusion surgeries costing $59,000 according to the NY time article).
An article published in the British Medical journal in 2005 showed the average cost of spinal surgery versus physical therapy was almost half ($14,000 vs $8,100 respectively). This in a country with socialized medicine. And not only was physical therapy cost effective, but the study also showed that the reduction of disability after 2 years of treatment was about the same (surgery showed a little bit more improvement but the study states that future surgeries and complications had to be considered).
Physical therapists need to continue to become more active advocates for their profession. Like I have said before, get out there and educate your community. Meet with physicians, surgeons, local gyms, and anyone in your area related in the health field that can benefit from knowing what a physical therapist actually does.
Indeed, many back pain specialists are now evaluating their patients daily exercise habits and emotional stresses. The new standards are a small step, but one reflective of the growing realization that pain, in all its forms, must be approached more holistically. But realization now dawning on physicians has not yet been felt by insurers. Health plans pay for surgery, drugs and spinal injections, but rarely for long-term physical therapy, psychotherapy — or joining a gym.
Noted Dr. Portenoy, “Training people to do the right thing doesn’t necessarily work in the real world if you’re only reimbursed for interventions.”
This article is proof in the pudding; people still are not as aware as they should be about the benefits of physical therapy. The medical world still seems to be turning to pharmacological or surgical solutions. Physical therapy is not only successful at helping to treat non specific low back pain, but also is much more conservative financially (the average cost of spinal fusion surgeries costing $59,000 according to the NY time article).
An article published in the British Medical journal in 2005 showed the average cost of spinal surgery versus physical therapy was almost half ($14,000 vs $8,100 respectively). This in a country with socialized medicine. And not only was physical therapy cost effective, but the study also showed that the reduction of disability after 2 years of treatment was about the same (surgery showed a little bit more improvement but the study states that future surgeries and complications had to be considered).
Physical therapists need to continue to become more active advocates for their profession. Like I have said before, get out there and educate your community. Meet with physicians, surgeons, local gyms, and anyone in your area related in the health field that can benefit from knowing what a physical therapist actually does.
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