Did You Know?

Americans Prefer Non-Drug Treatment for Pain, Find Physical Therapy Most Effective Option
Despite the nation’s alarming opioid epidemic, a new survey has found that Americans prefer a nondrug approach to pain treatment. The research brief (Americans Prefer Drug-Free Pain Management Over Opioids), released in early September 2017, is based on data collected from February through March 2017. The full study from Gallup-Palmer College of Chiropractic Annual Study of Americans will be available in October.
https://www.choosept.com

Opioids Largely Ineffective for Low Back Pain
People with chronic low back pain might get “modest, short-term pain relief” from opioids. But when it comes to long-term treatment, evidence to support the effectiveness of opioids is “lacking.” That’s the conclusion of an analysis by JAMA Internal Medicine (“Efficacy, Tolerability, and Dose-Dependent Effects of Opioid Analgesics for Low Back Pain” – May 23, 2016), after reviewing the results of 20 trials that included nearly 8,000 participants.
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Early Physical Therapy Can Be Cost-Effective Treatment for Low Back Pain
“Low back pain is the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work,” the National Institutes of Health (NIH) notes, and a recent study suggests there’s no reason to delay physical therapy that might relieve the pain.
https://www.choosept.com

Physical Therapy A Good First Choice Before Surgery for Meniscal Tears and Knee Osteoarthritis
Mild meniscal tears and moderate knee osteoarthritis send some people under the knife. For many, all they really need is physical therapy. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found no major difference between surgery and physical therapy. This means that many people can avoid unneeded invasive procedures and related costs.
https://www.choosept.com

Physical Therapy vs Opioids: When to Choose Physical Therapy for Pain Management
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sales of prescription opioids have quadrupled in the United States, even though “there has not been an overall change in the amount of pain that Americans report.”
https://www.choosept.com

Impact of Psychological Factors in the Experience of Pain
This article reviews the role of psychological factors in the development of persistent pain and disability, with a focus on how basic psychological processes have been incorporated into theoretical models that have implications for physical therapy. To this end, the key psychological factors associated with the experience of pain are summarized, and an overview of how they have been integrated into the major models of pain and disability in the scientific literature is presented.
https://academic.oup.com/ptj

Millions Don’t Receive Guideline-Recommended Care for Low Back Pain
Despite being the number one cause of disability around the world, low back pain is often improperly addressed with inappropriate tests and treatments, including addictive opioids.
https://www.choosept.com