Associations Between Physical Therapy Continuity of Care and Health Care Utilization and Costs in Patients With Low Back Pain: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Greater continuity of the physical therapy provider appears to be associated with a decreased likelihood of surgical treatment for LBP and lower health care costs related to LBP.

The Relationship between Continuity of Care with a Primary Care Provider and Duration of Work Disability in Workers with Low Back Pain: A Retrospective Cohort Study

“…Despite well-documented guidelines, treatment of LBP by GPs does not always adhere to best practice 31–33 . There is some evidence for this relationship in physical therapy, where lower CoC with physical therapists was associated with negative outcomes including higher incidence of invasive surgery and higher healthcare costs 12 .…”

“…Despite well-documented guidelines, treatment of LBP by GPs does not always adhere to best practice [31][32][33] . There is some evidence for this relationship in physical therapy, where lower CoC with physical therapists was associated with negative outcomes including higher incidence of invasive surgery and higher healthcare costs 12 . Another potential explanation for the observed association between CoC and duration of working time loss is that workers consulting multiple GPs will be asked to describe and quantify their pain experience repeatedly.…”

“…Recovery from LBP is best understood from a perspective that considers biopsychosocial factors alongside injury ‘severity’ as important 11 . For patients with LBP, highly continuous care with a physical therapist has been linked with lower rates of surgical intervention and lower overall health care costs 12 and continuity with a health care provider is also desired by patients with LBP 13 . Recovery and return to work for an episode of LBP is associated with a range of occupational, jurisdictional, social and demographic factors 14,15 .…”

Effectiveness of bent leg raise technique and neurodynamics in patients with radiating low back pain

“…14 Because physical therapy addresses the underlying pathology and biomechanical faults, that’s why physical therapy approaches can effectively manage these patients. 15 Physical therapy modalities such as TENS and short wave diathermy (SWD) can efficiently relive the pain. 16 Similarly, physical therapy specific exercises such as stretching and strengthening exercises are helpful in managing the muscle imbalances.…”

Effectiveness of physical therapy treatment in addition to usual podiatry management of plantar heel pain: a randomized clinical trial

“…Participants that did not complete treatment failed to follow-up as planned and, in the uPOD+PT group, attended fewer than 4 visits. The completer criteria of 4 visits in the uPOD+PT group was used to represent the average number of visits with a physical therapist for PHP of 4.9–5.1 [40, 56], to assure that care continuity was established [57], to reduce the potential for diminished response with fewer than 4 visits [58], and to reduce the likelihood of removing participants that did not follow-up due to lack of response to treatment. The completer criteria were determined prior to any data analysis.…”