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Recently published in Two River Times on 3/13/23
Musculoskeletal conditions (MSK) affect 50% of the American population age 18 and over and account for nearly $420 billion in annual costs to our healthcare system according to a retrospective study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2020. The cost in healthcare dollars is greater than diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and behavioral health. Physical therapy is considered one of the essential treatment options to help reduce these costs as well as speed up recovery by allowing ease of access into the healthcare system.
The most common musculoskeletal conditions being referenced are spinal injuries such as neck and back pain, tendon and ligament injuries like ankle sprains or shoulder bursitis as well as degenerative conditions which include osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis. The treatment for all these conditions involving bones, joints, ligaments and tendons account for a significant strain on healthcare services through the use of medical imaging such as MRI and X-rays as well as expensive specialist evaluations like orthopedic surgeons or pain management physicians.
Back pain has been identified in several studies as a main driver in spending dollars in the US. This is because many Americans spend most of their time at work either sitting or doing repetitive lifting. The wear and tear associated with musculoskeletal injuries to the neck and back account for 42% of all spending for MSK care. Physical therapy has been identified as a cost saver in the healthcare system because of early treatment, education and prevention strategies utilized by doctoral trained physical therapists.
The public is often confused about who to see first for these types of disorders and that is a major factor not only in resolving the pain syndrome but the costs associated with making the improper decision. For example, you wake up with a stiff neck and inability to turn your head or you twisted your ankle playing basketball in the local men’s league. Your recovery, as well as the cost associated with your care, will be determined by that early decision. You might decide to go to an emergency room or urgent care center for imaging and pharmaceutical options or you may wait several weeks to see a specialist and get referred for an expensive MRI. All of this may be unnecessary and delays your recovery.
A much more efficient system is to access the skills of a physical therapist through direct access. This changed in NJ back in 2003 when it was no longer required to get a prescription or referral from a physician to see a physical therapist. A skilled physical therapist will be able to screen for serious injury and make the necessary referral to a specialist if deemed necessary after performing a thorough initial evaluation. In the meantime, active treatment can be initiated immediately to reduce pain, swelling or limited mobility. This approach has been determined to reduce healthcare costs by 60% for low back pain as determined by Childs and Fritz in their landmark 2015 study published in BMC Health Services Research.
How should you choose your physical therapist? Make sure they are doctoral trained (DPT), have a board certification in orthopedics or neurology, practice in a private practice setting not controlled by a large business corporation and have 5 star patient reviews.
Dr. Bertone is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties with over 35 years of clinical experience. He is the owner of db OrthoPT with locations in Red Bank and Manalapan. Dr. Bertone can be reached at www.dborthopt.com.
