2 minute read
Think About Physical Therapy First
by Expert Contributor Mark E. Reitz, PT, Owner of Penn Therapy Associates
Do you ever consider calling a physical therapist when you suffer a muscular ache, pain or sprain? How about when you wake up with a nagging pain in your back? Most folks simply call their doctor or begin to take medication that may not be necessary.
Dozens of recent studies have demonstrated that the most effective, timely and cost-efficient way to treat acute musculoskeletal injuries is to see a physical therapist first. Physical Therapists (PTs) are trained in a 3-year doctorate program to evaluate and treat acute injuries as well as chronic pain. That training also teaches PTs to recognize when an injury is beyond their skill level, and to refer that injury appropriately.
Instead of waiting several days to see your family doctor and spending extra money for co-pays and/or deductibles and frequently undergoing unnecessary tests, you could have already had two or three physical therapy sessions for far less money and be on the road to a rapid recovery.
The Milliman studies* found that when physical therapy is the entry portal to the medical system for an acute back injury, that the outcomes are better; recovery is faster; and the cost per episode can be at least $10,000 less. Unfortunately, the Physical Therapy industry has done a poor job educating the public about what PTs do and what they can and cannot treat. And physical therapy often tends to be the afterthought when “nothing else has worked.”
Many Physical Therapists are licensed to evaluate and treat you for up to 30 days without your having to see a physician first. Unfortunately, that does not apply to Medicare patients who must still obtain a prescription first.
If you are new to physical therapy and want to be sure that what a Physical Therapist offers is right for you, you should expect to receive a free consultation. An initial physical therapy evaluation and treatment may include but not be limited to a musculoskeletal assessment, gait analysis, balance testing and, of course, hands-on pain control techniques including spinal or joint mobilization.
Physical Therapists can — and want to — teach you how to help heal yourself and prevent further injury and pain. They are exceptionally skilled at teaching their patients proper exercise and movement techniques, so they typically send every patient home with an exercise program.
So, the next time you’re in pain because you twisted a knee, sprained an ankle, trimmed too many hedges or hit too many golf balls, give a Physical Therapist a call first if you’d like to feel better faster and gain much knowledge about how to better take care of yourself and prevent further injury.
*Milliman, Inc. for the Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. “Impact of Physical Therapist Services on Low Back Pain Episodes of Care.” Chicago, April 12, 2018.
Expert Contributor Mark E. Reitz, PT, Owner of Penn Therapy Associates
PENN THERAPY Associates, Inc.
610-853-0508
www.PennTherapy.com
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