Physical Therapy First Can Reduce Healthcare Costs

A policy brief (click here to read the brief), dated February 2016, from the Health Care Cost Institute states that patients with lower back pain who received direct physical therapy care had reduced healthcare costs when compared to patients who were seen by another provider first. Also, patients who visited a physical therapist at the…

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Adolescents and Low Back Pain

New research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has shown that one of three adolescents reports some sort of low back pain. In nearly two-thirds of these patient’s, the clinical examination and imaging may not produce a clear cause for their pain. Researchers feel this pain could be a result…

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Seven Myths of Physical Therapy:

Myth 1: I need a physician’s prescription to see a physical therapist. Fact: Seventy percent on consumers surveyed think they need a prescription to see a physical therapist but the fact is ALL 50 states allow a patient to be evaluated by a physical therapist without a prescription. In California, physical therapists can evaluate, and…

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Six Common Misconceptions of Low Back Pain:

Misconception #1 – “I must live with the pain” – Not true! There are a number of options to help control back pain, some of these include: light stretching and flexibility exercises, physical therapy, yoga, massage, acupuncture, over the counter medications, even meditation. Misconception #2 – “Rest is the key to recovery from back problems”…

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A Pain In the Back

The Role of an MRI with Lumbar/Spine Pain Low back pain is the most common cause of disability and lost work time in industrialized countries. Research suggests that 80% of those who experience back pain recover in 6-8 weeks and do not require extensive treatment. It is important to note that recurrences and flare-ups of low…

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