PT Inquest Episode 95: Early PT Does Not Reduce Healthcare Utilization in Acute LBP

It’s time for another season of PT Inquest! This first paper does not bode well for the idea of seeing a PT early making much of a difference in long term costs and outcomes for acute low back pain in older patients. How was this study conducted? What does this mean for physical therapists? As a profession, are we promoting ourselves in spite of the research? Are there ethical implications? Is there a roadmap forward? Is JW becoming the weakest member of his family?!

Subsequent healthcare utilization associated with early physical therapy for new episodes of low back pain in older adults.
Karvelas DA, Rundell SD, Friedly JL, Gellhorn AC, Gold LS, Comstock BA, Heagerty PJ, Bresnahan BW, Nerenz DR, Jarvik JG.
Spine J. 2016 Oct 17. pii: S1529-9430(16)31013-0. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2016.10.007. [Epub ahead of print]

Due to copyright laws, unless the article is open source we cannot legally post the PDF on the website for the world to download at will. That said, if you are having difficulty obtaining an article, contact us.

Music for PT Inquest:
“The Science of Selling Yourself Short” by Less Than Jake
Used by Permission

Photo credit: “168/365 Back pain” by Michael Sauers via Flickr.

Looking for the comments section? Learn why you can’t find them.