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Physical Therapists as Primary Spine Providers One of the anticipated outcomes of health care reform is an increase in the number of US citizens enrolled in health insurance plans. A potential consequence of increased enrolment may be a shortage of primary care physicians (PCP) to accommodate the increased number of insured individuals. But there does not have to be a shortage of qualified health care providers in our new health care system. Let me explain. Currently, PCP’s manage the o...

When Is It Time To Seek Physical Therapy? Many folks aren't keen to rush into surgery. A study published earlier this year found that physical therapy can be just as good for a common injury and at far less cost and risk. Although therapy didn't always help, many of those who stuck with therapy had improved as much six months and one year later as those who received surgery right away, researchers found. To find out more about physical therapy, Huff/Post50 spoke with Alice Bell, a physical the...

The Importance of Physical Therapy after Hip Replacement Surgery Imagine being so stiff, so limited in mobility or in so much pain that being able to walk or even get out of chairs becomes a difficult process. Symptoms such as arthritis, hip fractures and years of wear and tear are some of the reasons why hip replacement may be required. If an orthopaedic doctor decides a patient is a candidate for hip replacement surgery, consumers should know the procedure generally has a high success rate. ...

Osteoarthritis: Current Science and Optimal Treatment Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common musculoskeletal condition and can affect any synovial (moving) joint in the body. It is most frequently found in the spinal joints of the neck and low back, the knee, the hip and the hands. Most people by the age of 65 have some evidence of OA. Further, OA parallels only cardiac disease as the leading cause of disability in the US. The current understanding of OA by the scientific community has evolved...

WHY SEE A PHYSICAL THERAPIST BEFORE THE MRI? Many insurance companies are now requiring people with back pain and other musculoskeletal conditions to see a physical therapist prior to approving payment for advanced diagnostic imaging. This trend is gaining momentum, and there are good reasons why this is happening. First, there have been documented reports of innovative models of healthcare, such as the Virginia Mason pilot project1 whereby cost savings have been realized when people with cer...