Newsweek article on back pain - Time to brand PT

Today's Newsweek article on the price of low back pain provides a nice summary on how all to often surgery is not the answer.  I was enjoying the article until I saw the text:

"Despite a growing array of sophisticated drugs, diagnostics, physical therapies, and surgical techniques, the millions of Americans battling back pain may not be any closer to getting that quick relief than they were 20 years ago."

What the heck are physical therapies?  I tried to use this phrase in a sentence. How about this, "I went to the clinic and they did some physical therapies on my knee."  I know - I cringe when I typed that phrase.  Just for fun - say it out loud.  Did you think of Jed Clampett and Jethro?  I did. So along with the other posts from today, I agree it is way past due to brand Physical Therapy. We can offer cost effective evidence supported care for low back pain.  We can at least do better than the icy hot patch that was pulled from the market this week.   We need the public to equate the conservative care of acute low back pain with 2-3 visits of structured active physical therapy and patient education. 

I also filled out a survey from the APTA this week on how I thought the APTA web page could better meet my needs.  Thanks APTA - I thought the survey was a great idea. I recommended that instead of the site trying to be everything to everyone, it really focus on branding the profession and serving as a resource for the profession.  Leave the blogging, personal pages, group discussions and social networking to myphysicaltherapyspace.com.  Instead, make the APTA webpage a one stop shop for the public, our medical collagues and ourselves.  The sole purpose of the front end of this webpage should be to "brand" PT.  The link to member services can do the rest. The APTA web page has improved significantly over the past four years but I still think it is trying to do too much.  Take a look at the Canadian Physiotherapy Association web page, what do you think?  It appears simple and it has position statements on patient safety, manipulation, etc.  I would also envision a web site that provides a library of letter templates for press releases, marketing and referring provider letters requesting PT in patients that have been screened as being at high risk for falls, etc.

Webpages can easily become complex and enormous and may or may not appear visually plaeasing to one person versus another.  However, I think we need to keep it simple and in this case quality is way more important than quantity.

Any other websites out there that you really like?  Let's give the APTA some ideas.  And please, tomorrow when your patient comes in and states he or she needs some physical therapies for their rotary cup.  Smile and gently correct them.

JW Matheson PT, DPT, MS, OCS, SCS, CSCS

JW Matheson PT

Comments

[Eric]

Hey, are you cheating by striking out your initials? Anyway, keep that DPT in there! I agree that the APTA web page is way too busy. It should be re-designed with a sense of simplicity that is now the web standard for professionalism.

[jwmatheson]

Yes! - that is the beauty of the strikeout. It allows everyone to see all your credentials and yet at the same time you can feel good about dropping them. Perhaps it like the nicotine patch - it is a little crutch to help you in the transition :).

I am proud of the DPT and the professions move to a doctoring profession. I have heard that about 50% of all PTs change professions or quit by the time they are 38. I have not been able to substantiate that with reseach. One may conclude that this is do to individuals starting families, etc. My point is that in roughly 8 to 10 years those with a DPT will be in the majority versus minority. All entry level clinicians will be considered "doctors of physical therapy." I think this is a very good thing. I don't have any stigma about being called Dr. Still, I don't want the public to get confused when I am a PT, DPT, OCS, SCS and my colleagues are PT, OCS, FAAOMPT, etc. I want the patient to think of me as their knowledable physical therapist first and foremost. I want them to equate physical therapist with "expert care provider." On my business card or webpage they can see that I am board certified in sports and orthopedics. We need to speak the same language amongst ourselves. As per the discussion below, I often use the APTA membership directory to locate a PT out of state for a student returning to college outside Minnesota. With them looking over my shoulder, I say "let's find a PT near your school who is board certified in sports or orthopedics and may have his or her clinical doctorate." The patient gets this - they don't get the whole alphabet thing.

[Jim Cenova, PT]

Maybe they got confused and meant "therapeas."

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2003/6/prweb69092.htm

[jwmatheson]

Jim - that was priceless. LOL

Speaking of Branding PT. Defense Secretary Robert Gates fractured his right shoulder after slipping on the ice per this report on MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23144664/). I immediately thought Secretary Gates is going to need some physical therapy. Thats what I want the public to think when they read stuff like this.

[B. Fridrich]

I just recently completed the APTA survey and agree with your comments. However I think that the APTA website could benefit from some type of link similar to myptspace. If consumers, as well as PT's and other health providers, can assess the website, maybe it would be beneficial for professionals outside of the PT realm to have a chance to view our thoughts and comments on what we feel are pressing issues pertaining to the PT world. Just a thought...

[Jason Berl]

I also completed the APTA survey recently. Blogging and myspace type material is not the right direction for the APTA. I think it is already somewhat difficult to navigate the site from a public point of view. The AOTA does a better job of this.

[Keith]

Love this post! So many news sites recommend expensive unnecessary surgeries before people have even discovered what the true cause of their pain is. The funny thing is that sometimes even simple stretches can eliminate pain.

[Keith]

here's a video to follow up with my last comment...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_alXoZ4774