Because of the closures of physician’s offices, stoppages of elective surgeries, and social distancing guidelines resulting from COVID-19, many people with pain or joint issues have had appointments or surgeries delayed. If you’re one of them and you haven’t seen your PT yet, you should. You can see your PT via virtual telehealth sessions or in the clinic setting. Here are some reasons why:
Early PT leads to better outcomes
Studies have shown that people who receive PT sooner have better outcomes, lower costs, are less likely to have surgery, use opioids or have unnecessary testing. Because back pain is so common, there is a lot of outcome data from people with back pain. 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. Unfortunately, only 2% of people with back pain start with PT, and only 7% get to PT within 90 days.
Early PT saves money
The rising cost of healthcare is well known and early PT is something that has been shown to reduce costs without reducing the effectiveness of treatment. A study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy showed that patients who obtained physical therapy via direct access had significantly lower medical costs—an average of $1,543 less per patient than those who chose referral from a physician. They also had significantly fewer visits and spent significantly fewer days in care.
Free Treatment Day – Tuesday, June 23rd
If you were planning on seeing your primary care physician or a specialist for an orthopedic condition or pain and you haven’t seen a PT yet, you should consider making PT your first stop. You could end up getting better faster for less money and you might avoid riskier treatments, like opioids or surgery. Pain & Movement Solutions is holding their bi-annual free treatment day on Tuesday, June 23rd. Receive a free 30-minute evaluation and treatment and experience how much better PT can help you feel this summer. Anyone in South Dakota can now take advantage of this great opportunity to receive a free evaluation and treatment through telehealth options. The appointments are limited and always fill up, so reserve your spot today by calling 605-723-0185.
About Pain & Movement Solutions
Pain & Movement Solutions is a therapist-owned, outpatient physical therapy practice in Belle Fourche, serving the community since 2012. Their staff works diligently to be the best option for all of your musculoskeletal pains and movement problems. No referral is needed for most care. How we live is based on how we move. Find more information about how Pain & Movement Solutions is optimizing movement to improve the human experience at www.painandmovementsolutions.com. #ChoosePT