Exploring the Impact of Physical Therapy on Workers’ Compensation and Beyond

The 2024 Industry Trends Report by MedRisk highlights the pivotal role of physical therapy (PT) in both the workers’ compensation sector and the broader healthcare system. Annually, the United States sees around 300 million PT sessions, with a growing emphasis on PT’s ability to reduce healthcare costs by minimizing the need for surgery, prescription medications, and lengthy hospital stays. Key findings include evidence from the Department of Defense and UnitedHealthcare, underscoring the benefits of prompt PT access in improving patient outcomes and reducing expenses.

The report showcases an independent study commissioned by the American Physical Therapy Association, revealing substantial economic savings and enhanced clinical outcomes from PT over alternative treatments for conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, low back pain, and lateral epicondylitis. Despite the proven advantages of early PT intervention, the report notes a stagnation in the ’Speed to PT Care’ over the past decade, with minimal improvement in the timeliness of initiating PT treatment across all injury types.

In workers’ compensation cases, particularly for conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, lower back pain, and lateral epicondylitis, the delay in starting PT care significantly affects claim outcomes. The report also discusses the role of psychological barriers in recovery, utilizing the Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire to illustrate the correlation between psychological risk factors and the number of PT visits required for treatment.

Additionally, the report delves into digital musculoskeletal (MSK) solutions as emerging tools in enhancing PT outcomes, categorizing them into support, supplement, and substitute tools to provide a comprehensive overview of their potential impact on recovery processes.

MedRisk, through its extensive network and managed PT services, underscores the untapped potential within the workers’ compensation landscape to optimize financial and medical results through strategic PT utilization and the integration of digital tools.