Despite abundant evidence and published guidelines calling for conservative initial treatment of most back pain through methods including physical therapy and over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine (“Worsening Trends in the Management and Treatment of Back Pain” – September 23, 2013) indicates that physicians often over-treat back pain, with increases in use of imaging, narcotics, and referrals to other physicians. The over-treatment leads to unnecessary expenses.
Early physical therapy has been shown to be a cost-effective treatment for low back pain.
Helpful Resources:
- Health Center for Low Back Pain
- Early Physical Therapy Can Be Cost-Effective Treatment for Low Back Pain
- Beginning Low Back Pain Treatment With Advanced Imaging Leads to Higher Total Costs
- Physical Therapy Equal to Surgery for Spinal Stenosis
- Physical Therapy as Effective as Surgery for Degenerative Disk Disease
- Podcast: Back Pain: Avoiding Unnecessary Treatment
- Podcast: Success Story: Avoiding Back Surgery to Return to Marathons
- Podcast: Natalie Gulbis on Back Pain and the Physical Demands of Golf
- Podcast: Treatment for Spinal Stenosis: Comparing Physical Therapy and Surgery
- Physical Therapist’s Guide to Low Back Pain
- Physical Therapist’s Guide to Spinal Stenosis
This information was originally published on the American Physical Therapy Association website. Click here to view it.
