Protocol for the Implementation of Psychologically Informed Physical Therapy to Prevent Chronification in Service...

Area of Science:

• Military health
• Physical therapy
• Musculoskeletal disorders

Background:

• Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a leading cause of disability in active duty service members (ADSMs).
• Psychologically informed physical therapy (PiPT) effectively prevents chronicity in civilian populations by addressing psychological risk factors.
• A training program was developed to equip military physical therapists (PTs) with PiPT skills for treating ADSMs with MSDs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the feasibility of implementing PiPT within the U.S. military healthcare system.
• To determine the effectiveness of PiPT in treating MSDs in ADSMs.
• To evaluate the impact of PiPT training on military PTs.

Main Methods:

• An observational, prospective, comparative cohort study design.
• Two cohorts of ADSMs with MSDs: one receiving usual PT care, the other receiving PiPT after staff training.
• Data collection at baseline, fourth PT visit, 6 months, and 12 months post-enrollment, focusing on pain interference and psychological risk for chronicity.

Main Results:

• Data collection is ongoing; preliminary findings will identify factors associated with PiPT outcomes in ADSMs.
• The study will document the prevalence of risk factors for MSD chronicity in ADSMs.
• Expected results will inform PiPT implementation across various healthcare settings.

Conclusions:

• Successful implementation of PiPT can prevent MSD chronification, reducing lost military man-hours and enhancing readiness.
• The training contributes to a skilled healthcare workforce for ADSMs.
• Optimized PT resource allocation through PiPT is anticipated to improve healthcare efficiency and yield cost savings for the military.