Osteoporosis: What you need to know.

Osteoporosis is a common disease that causes a thinning and weakening of the bones. It can affect people of any age. Women have the greatest risk of developing the disease, although it also occurs in men. Osteoporosis affects 55% of Americans aged 50 or older; one-half of women and a quarter of men will fracture a bone as a result of low bone density (osteopenia) or osteoporosis. Thin bones are the cause of 1.5 million fractures per year in the United States; hip fractures alone result in 300,000 hospitalizations. It is important to diagnosis low bone density or osteoporosis early so that steps can be taken to rebuild bone strength and lessen the risk of fracture.

Physical therapists are movement experts. They improve quality of life through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement.

Want to learn more about the medical management of Osteoporosis with the latest medications used? Medical-Journeys-in-Osteoporosis-Patient-Handout-2

Physical Therapists Help Active People Live Better

Physical therapy has lots of benefits for active people. Athletes, performers, weekend warriors, and people who work in physically demanding jobs can all benefit from the expertise of a physical therapist. Here are 3 ways physical therapists help active people stay that way.

Injury Treatment
Active people get hurt. Physical therapists have the knowledge and skills to help people recover from injuries faster. In addition to helping people recover, physical therapists will look for the root cause of the injury and address that as well, to help keep the injury from coming back. If the injury is severe and requires surgery, a physical therapist will guide the recovery and make sure the person gets back to their activity. But in some cases, a physical therapist can help an injured person avoid surgery in the first place.

Injury Prevention
Surgery isn’t the only thing physical therapists can help people avoid. A physical therapist can also help with injury prevention too. A thorough assessment of an athlete’s strength, mobility, balance, and coordination helps to identify issues that could lead to injury. A PT can then design a program to improve the problem areas before they lead to injury. A PT can also assess an existing training plan and help to identify areas that may lead to sprains, strains, or overtraining.

Improve Performance
In addition to helping people improve areas where they’re weak, therapists can help people get better in areas of strength. A physical therapist can create a program to improve strength, flexibility, coordination, agility or speed. Physical therapists are movement experts. They can break down the requirements of a specific physical task like lifting or throwing, then design a training program that will help people meet those demands.

Physical Therapy is more than just a way to get back on your feet after an injury – it can also help you stay at the top of your game. Whether you’re an athlete, a dancer, or someone who wants to stay in shape, physical therapy can help you reach your performance goals. With the right exercises and treatments, physical therapists can help you improve strength, flexibility, and endurance so that you can perform at your best and lower your risk of injury.

References:

1) Research (peer-reviewed)
a) What we currently do for sports – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31077961/
b) Sports injury prevention – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35421834/
c) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34238639/
2) Articles and Content
a) https://www.idsportsmed.com/7-benefits-of-sports-physical-therapy/
b) https://www.childrens.com/amp/health-wellness/how-physical-therapy-helps-athletes-and-what-to-expect
How Can Physical Therapy Help to Avoid Surgery? – Tucson Orthopaedic Institute

Consider physical therapy first for faster recovery and reduced healthcare costs.

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.

Moving through Fibromyalgia with Physical Therapy

Nearly 5 million people in the United States have fibromyalgia. This chronic condition causes widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive issues. It can be difficult to manage and can severely impact quality of life. The best treatment plans combine exercise, modalities and education. Physical therapists are experts in all three, so they’re the perfect practitioner to help!
Exercise
Currently, recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia include patient education and non-pharmacological interventions. The right exercise routine can help with pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, and more. A combination of strengthening, stretching and aerobic exercise is the most effective. You and your PT will work together to find the right type and intensity of exercise to best manage your symptoms.
Modalities
Exercise isn’t the only tool the PT has to help people with fibromyalgia though. Gentle manual therapy and massage have been shown to help reduce pain and muscle stiffness caused by fibromyalgia. Physical therapists also use modalities to reduce symptoms.

Examples include:
● electrical stimulation
● laser
● biofeedback
● dry needling in states where it is allowed

In addition to land-based exercise, some clinics also have the option of aquatic therapy. This combines the benefits of exercise with the warmth of a therapeutic pool.

Education
Education is another important component in treating fibromyalgia. A physical therapist spends more time with their patients than most other practitioners. They have the time to help you understand what’s going on, and what you can do about it. Research shows that people with more knowledge about their condition have better outcomes, more confidence, and cope better.

While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, physical therapists can help with pain management, strength, mobility, fatigue and function to help patients find relief from their symptoms. 
References:

1. Research (peer-reviewed)
a. Therex effectiveness – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5632473/
b. PT for fibromyalgia – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31140398/
c. Exercises for fibro – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29185675/
d. Manual therapy for fibro – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32604939/
e. Aquatic PT for fibro – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23818412/
f. Effectiveness of exercise with fatigue, etc for fibro – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32721388/
2. Articles and Content
a. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11028838/
b. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36051912/
c. https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-fibromyalgia

Cool story about office complex we are moving to in Dec. 2022!

Our Lincroft office will be moving down the road 1 mile to 331 Newman Springs Road, Red Bank in Dec. 2022.  Attached is a story in the Asbury Park press about the extensive renovations and upgrades happening in the building complex we are moving to!

With Prices On The Rise, Physical Therapists Help Keep Costs Down.

Healthcare, like most other things these days, isn’t known for being cheap. Healthcare costs have been rising for years. But even in this environment, there are still bargains to be had – like physical therapy.

A study that looked at the claims data of 472,000 Medicare beneficiaries with back pain found that when PT was the first treatment, costs were 19% lower than when people got injections first and 75% lower than for people who were sent straight to surgery. The study also found that in the year following diagnosis, people who got PT first had costs 18% lower than those who got injections, and 54% lower than those in the surgery group.

Another example happened in 2006 when Starbucks sent workers with back pain to see both a physical therapist and physician for their first treatment. Use of MRI dropped by 1/3, people got better faster, missed less work and were more satisfied with their care.

Money isn’t the only thing that physical therapy can save, though. A paper published in Physical Therapy looked at outcomes when patients went to a PT first vs. seeing a physician first for back pain. It found that patients who went to their physician first needed 33 PT visits on average, while those who went to their PT first only needed 20. Seeing a PT first saves money, but it also conserves another valuable resource – time.

People who get a PT early also tend to have better outcomes. A study of 150,000 insurance claims published in Health Services Research, found that those who saw a physical therapist at the first point of care had an 89 percent lower probability of receiving an opioid prescription, a 28 percent lower probability of having advanced imaging services, and a 15 percent lower probability of an emergency department visit.

High quality research consistently shows that taking advantage of direct access and getting to a physical therapist quickly leads to better outcomes in fewer visits with lower costs. Physical therapy proves that even when everything seems to be becoming more expensive, there are still bargains to be found if you know where to look.