Highlights
- •Early physical therapy is within 30 days of the index visit for acute low back pain.
- •Early physical therapy for acute low back pain reduces health services utilization.
- •Early vs delayed physical therapy is more cost effective.
- •Results are mixed for early physical therapy vs usual care.
Abstract
Objective
To synthesize literature about the effect of early physical therapy (PT) for acute
low back pain (LBP) on subsequent health services utilization (HSU), compared to delayed
PT or usual care.
Data Sources
Electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase) were searched from their inception
to May 2018.
Study Selection
Study selection included randomized control trials and prospective and retrospective
cohort studies that investigated the association between early PT and HSU compared
to delayed PT or usual care. Two independent authors screened titles, abstracts, and
full-text articles for inclusion based on eligibility criteria, and a third author
resolved discrepancies. Eleven out of 1146 articles were included.
Data Extraction
Two independent reviewers extracted data on participants, timing of PT, comparisons
to delayed PT or usual care, and downstream HSU, and a third reviewer assessed the
information to ensure accuracy and reach consensus. Risk of bias was assessed with
the Downs and Black checklist using the same method.
Data Synthesis
Eleven studies met eligibility criteria. Early PT is within 30 days of the index visit
for acute LBP. Five out of 6 studies that compared early PT to delayed PT found that
early PT reduces future HSU. Random effects meta-analysis indicated a significant
reduction in opioid use, spine injection, and spine surgery. Five studies compared
early PT to usual care and reported mixed results.
Conclusions
Early PT for acute LBP may reduce HSU, cost, and opioid use, and improve health care
efficiency. This review may assist patients, health care providers, health care systems,
and third-party payers in making decisions for the treatment of acute LBP.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
APTA (American Physical Therapy Association), CI (confidence interval), HSU (health services utilization), LBP (low back pain), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), OR (odds ratio), PT (physical therapy), RCT (randomized control trial)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 23, 2019
Footnotes
Clinical Trial Registration No.: CRD42017069682.
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
