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Physical therapy utilization by patients with acute low back pain
T J Mielenz1, T S Carey, D A Dyrek
1Department of Medical Allied Health Professions, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27599-7135, USA.
Physical Therapy
|November 5, 1997
Summary
Patients with more severe acute low back pain (LBP) were more likely to see physical therapists. This highlights the need to account for patient characteristics when comparing LBP treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Physical Therapy
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Acute low back pain (LBP) is a common condition with varied treatment pathways.
- Understanding patient characteristics and service utilization is crucial for effective LBP management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize patients with acute LBP.
- To identify patients receiving physical therapy (PT) for acute LBP.
- To analyze the utilization of physical therapy services in acute LBP care.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 1,580 patients with acute LBP was studied.
- Initial providers included primary care physicians, chiropractors, and orthopedic surgeons.
- Telephone interviews assessed demographics, medical history, service utilization, and functional status over 24 weeks.
Main Results:
- 12.6% of patients saw a physical therapist, accessed via referral or direct access.
- Therapeutic exercise was the most frequent PT intervention.
- Factors associated with PT use included higher education, Workers' Compensation claims, prior PT for LBP, leg pain, and higher baseline symptom severity.
Conclusions:
- Physical therapists were more frequently utilized by patients with more severe acute low back pain.
- Controlling for baseline patient characteristics is essential when comparing LBP treatment outcomes across different provider types.