The Benefits of Early PT Treatment
for Treating Lower Back Pain
What can be done for back pain? Costs associated with treating lower back issues are on the rise. We want to know exactly what is wrong, but sometimes that leads to expensive testing, which is often unnecessary and doesn’t always change the outcome for back pain. Early physical therapy can often be an effective and cost-efficient solution. A recent study in the journal Spine investigated whether early physical therapy had any effects on these outcomes. The study included 220 patients seen by their primary care provider. Patients were from 18–60 years old, had been experiencing lower back pain for less than 16 days, and had no radiating pain below the knees. Half of the patients in the study were given “early” physical therapy, which included one visit with a physical therapist per week for four weeks. The other half of participants were encouraged to remain physically active, but were not offered PT.
The study observed these patients after four weeks, three months, and one year. The group who underwent early physical therapy experienced statistically better quality of life measures and had less lower back pain and disability. The early PT treatment was found to be more cost effective, as well. This is only one study, but the results are significant enough that more research is being pursued to gain additional insight on the subject, including information about which approach works best. The takeaway from this study? Early physical therapy can be a helpful option for treating recent onset back pain. If you’re experiencing back pain, especially pain that began within the last two weeks, you might benefit from early PT treatment, both for a higher quality of life and a lower cost.
As many of us know all too well, lower back pain is a common problem. It keeps people from doing their jobs, playing with their kids, and sometimes, even performing simple daily tasks.
Give us a call at Elite PT to find out what we can do for your lower back pain.
Have a Laugh!
Grilled Ranch Potatoes
Ingredients •
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Ranch dressing for drizzling
2 pounds baby potatoes, halved
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1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
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1/4 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
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Bacon bits (optional)
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Juice of 1/2 lemon
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Salt and pepper to taste
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1/2 packet ranch seasoning
Directions 1. Heat grill to medium. In a large pan, toss potatoes with olive oil, lemon juice, and ranch seasoning. Season generously with salt and pepper. 2. Skewer potatoes. (If using wood skewers, be sure to soak in water an hour before grilling.) Grill until tender and lightly charred, about 15 minutes. 3. Drizzle with ranch and garnish with chives and bacon bits.
Inspired by delish.com
Elite PT • (318) 443-3311 • 3
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