Consumer Reports Hails the Value of The Physical Therapist

The full article is copyrighted so I am not able to post in full, however momentum is building, with Consumer Reports having just published in their May issue a stinging criticism of drugs, surgery, and imaging in the management of back pain and hailing the value of non-surgical options such as seeing a physical therapist. Here is a link to the free information: http://www.consumerreports.org/health/treatment-centers/muscles-and-bones/back-pain.htm?loginMethod=auto.

When asked the question "Who helped most?", consumers invariably responded in favor of those specializing in the non procedure driven (and lower cost) health care providers, with satisfaction rates as follows:

Chiropractor: 59%

Physical Therapist: 55%

Acupuncturist: 53%

Physician, specialist: 44%

Physician, primary care: 34%

The article of course talks about the value of "chiropractic" for acute back pain, but of course the evidence for this recommendation has largely been generated by physical therapists performing spinal manipulation (no wonder the public is confused). Nonetheless, lots of good information here and worth perusing in more detail.

As discussed in yesterday's post, the perfect (or worst based on perspective) health care storm is brewing to transform the PT profession and its role in the health care system. Direct access is indeed an old idea but one whose time should be coming in its most complete form as the #1 answer to the nation's health care problems.

John