Physical Therapist Offer Low-Cost Solution to Increasing Health Costs

Put out by the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Therapist for immediate release:

February 14, 2008

Health care expenditures for patients with spinal conditions are rising without an associated increase in health status, according to a February, 2008 research report appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study suggest that Americans may be wasting their money for treatments as the overall proportion of people with impaired function increased from 1997 - 2005, despite a 65% increase in expenditures to treat spine conditions...

"I think the truth is we have perhaps oversold what we have to offer," said Richard A. Deyo, a physician at Oregan Health & Science University in Portland and a coauthor of the report. "All the imaging we do, all the drug treatments, all the injections, all the operations have some benefit for some patients. But I think in each of those situations we've begun using those tests or treatments more widely than science would really support."

Particularly discouraging in this recent report was an increase in pharmaceutical expenditures of 171% during the study period. This suggest that physicians are over-utilizing an ineffective treatment for spine pain.

"You have drugs, you have surgery, or you have us," explained Flynn. "The reality is that very few treatments have shown the ability to truly affect patients with spine conditions. Physical therapists can do just that.

A separate study in 2006 demonstrated that patients with back pain were experiencing an increase in the rates of imaging and injections, meanwhile realizing a significant under-utilization of physical therapy.

For more information on the benefits of physical therapy and what they can do for you within the bounds of on-site physical therapy or for your family, please seek out your on-site physical therapist or call 1-877-836-8652