Can Physical Therapy lessen or stop headaches/migraines?

Dennis Kaster, PT

Did you know that physical therapists are able to significantly decrease or eliminate headaches and or migraines?  Many times headaches and migraines are triggered by muscle tension or tightness in your neck.  These muscle issues can be alleviated with some simple corrections to poor posture and muscle weakness or tightness.  There are many ways that a physical therapist can help you to get rid of your headaches and migraines.  Physical therapy is a great alternative to taking expensive medications which can be detrimental to some of your body organs— like your liver.  Treatments like Botox can be very expensive and have only temporary effects.  The corrections that a physical therapist makes can be lifelong.  Here are some ways a physical therapist can help to decrease your headaches or migraines.

Posture – If you have poor posture or are looking down a great deal, this can cause the muscles that hold your head up to pull extra hard on the back of your skull.  This can trigger headaches and migraines.  By improving your posture or modifying your work station, these same muscles will not pull as hard on the back of your skull.

Ergonomic setup – if your workstation or even areas that you do crafting in are not set up correctly, this can put extra stress on your body and neck.  Simple things like wearing reading glasses instead of bifocals when you are at your computer can make a big difference.  A physical therapist can help you to set up your work stations to put less stress on your body.

Dry needling – This is a newer technique that can give instant relief for headaches and migraines.  I have seen some patients get total relief from migraines and headaches after just a couple of treatments using this technique combined with other treatments listed here.  This technique involves putting very thin needles into the sore muscles causing headaches and migraines.  It is very simple and takes only a few minutes to do.  Call one of our clinics for more details on this awesome technique.

Stretching – Muscle tightness can definitely trigger migraines and headaches.  A physical therapist can give you stretches specifically for the individual muscles that are causing your headaches or migraines.

Strengthening – Weak muscles in your neck and upper chest area can also contribute to your migraines and headaches.  A physical therapist can give you specific strengthening exercises to better support your head and neck.

Soft tissue mobilization – Many times the muscles in your neck and upper back can be very sore and have “knots” or trigger points in them, or just be tight.  A physical therapist can do soft tissue mobilization, a very specific type of massage, which will help to alleviate muscle tightness and trigger points in your muscles.

Ultrasound/Electrical stimulation – Ultrasound is a modality that helps to relax muscle tissue and promote healing.  Electrical stimulation is a modality that can help to decrease pain and inflammation in the tissues.  Either or both of these can be used to help decrease your pain or muscle tightness.

Unfortunately, one of the best-kept secrets is that physical therapy is a relatively cheap and easy way to decrease or eliminate headaches and migraines without taking expensive and powerful medications. 

Please call one of our clinics today.  We can do a free screen with you to let you know if we think we can help you.  Most insurances do not require a physician referral to physical therapy, so you can call and set up an appointment without having to see a physician first.  We look forward to helping you take control of your life and to eliminate the crippling effects of headaches and migraines.

Osteoarthritis of the Thumb CMC Joint

Written by: Tammy Vanevenhoven PT, DPT, CHT

As the season of fall hovers over us and the leaves begin to fall, the temperatures outside continue to fall as well. For those who suffer from arthritic hands stiffness and pain, it can quickly be felt by the changes in the temperature. Osteoarthritis is the most common of all joint diseases. It often affects the larger weight-bearing joints of the hips and knees, but it also commonly affects the smaller joints of the hands; especially the base of the thumb called the CMC joint (carpometacarpal joint). The CMC joint of the thumb is considered a saddle joint that allows the thumb its vast ability to grasp objects of various shapes and sizes, to open doors, jars, and packages, etc. It also allows pinching-- a more precision type movement for writing, buttoning, using scissors, picking up small objects or turning a key. We need our thumbs as they contribute to 60% of our hand function.

Signs and Symptoms of CMC joint arthritis are:

*pain at the base of the thumb after activity

*pain with active movement of the thumb especially with pinch

*morning stiffness

*joint tenderness to palpation

*crepitus (crunching noise in the joint) with thumb movement

*joint deformity with bony nodules felt at base of thumb

*weakness of hand grip (opening a jar, sealed packages, etc.) or with pinch (writing, buttoning, turning a key, etc.)

How is CMC joint arthritis diagnosed?

Usually a standard radiographic x-ray will show joint space narrowing, bony changes such as spur formation, and joint erosion. Based on the x-ray, the arthritic changes are usually classified as mild, moderate, or severe joint destruction.

What can be done non- surgically to help the painful arthritic thumb?

A certified hand therapist (CHT) or an occupational therapist can be of great help in alleviating pain in the arthritic thumb by fabricating a thumb spica splint that stabilizes the base of the thumb while still allowing use of the thumb tip for light pinch and grip activities. Stiffness can be reduced by using a paraffin bath that is composed of paraffin wax and mineral oil which is then melted to a therapeutic warm temperature which molds around the bony prominences of the hand to help soothe pain and improve movement of the joint. Your hand therapist will also educate you on joint protection by recommending built up handles on objects that are difficult to grip such as tools, scissors, writing and eating utensils. Key adapters can also be placed on your keys to allow ease with key pinch. An electric can opener can also be used to avoid stressing the arthritic thumb with a manual can opener. Protecting the hands from the cold weather is very important. Wearing mittens and using warming packs if you like to be outdoors will help keep your hands from getting stiff and painful while you cross country ski, ice fish or while taking a winter hike.

What does the surgery for CMC joint replacement entail?

CMC joint arthroplasty is the most common joint replacement of the arthritic hand. The beak ligament reconstruction, or the LRTI, is the most common surgical procedure performed. The hand has, thankfully, many muscles that perform the same function. They are called “spare parts.” The eroded CMC joint is removed and one of these extra tendons of the hand/wrist is sacrificed and bundled up to fill in the joint space at the base of the thumb. Patients are placed in a cast and often external pins are inserted for extra immobilization.  At four weeks the cast and pins are removed, and the patients are placed in a forearm-based thumb spica splint and sent to therapy to see a certified hand therapist or an occupational therapist that specializes in treatment of the hand. Therapy includes gentle progressive range of motion to restore normal movement of the thumb, fingers and concurrent wrist; which becomes stiff from being in the cast. Swelling control and pain management are treated by working on scar mobility to avoid tendon adherence. Hypersensitivity often occurs from the surgeons having to retract the superficial radial nerve to perform the operation. Therapists can ease this sensitivity by performing desensitization exercises to calm the nerve pain. Restoring functional hand strength while appreciating joint protection and education of patients for life-long care for the arthritic thumb are just some of the various ways your hand therapist can help.

If you would like more information in treating your arthritic hands you can call Advanced Physical Therapy and ask to speak to a certified hand therapist or occupational therapist that can assist you in answering your questions. APTSM New London phone: (920)982-0100.

October is National Physical Therapy Month!

Adam Wirtz, DPT, PT, OCS

In celebration of National Physical Therapy Month, I thought it would be beneficial to share some facts about our profession:

Physical therapists (PT’s) are movement experts who optimize quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education.  PT’s and the licensed physical therapist assistants (PTA’s) they may team with provide care across the lifespan to anyone of any ability.

There are many benefits to physical therapy. Some of which include the following:

Ø It can maximize your movement. PT’s can identify, diagnose, and treat movement problems.  Pain-free movement is essential for good quality of life, your ability to earn a living, and your ability to remain independent.

Ø Personalized care that meets your specific needs.  PT’s design individualized treatment plans to address each patients’ needs, challenges, and goals.  PT’s and PTA’s improve patient mobility, manage/decrease pain and other chronic conditions, recovery from injury/surgery, and aim to prevent future injury and chronic disease.

Ø Accessibility.  PT’s and PTA’s provide care in a variety of settings including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, homes, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings, and nursing homes.

Ø Active participation in care.  PT’s and PTA’s empower and motivate people to be active participants in their care.  They also work in collaboration with other medical professionals to make sure patients receive high quality, comprehensive care.

Ø Reduces use of opioids.  In certain situations, when dosed appropriately, prescription opioid medications can be an appropriate part of medical care.  However, current CDC guidelines are urging medical providers to consider safer alternatives to opioids, like physical therapy, for most long-term pain management.  Opioids have several risks including depression, overdose, and addiction; plus withdrawal symptoms when stopping use.

Ø Avoid surgery.  Before undergoing expensive or invasive surgery, consider physical therapy first.  There is mounting evidence that physical therapy can be as effective, or in some cases, even better than surgery for conditions such as meniscal tears and knee osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disk disease.

Now that you are aware of some of the benefits of PT, let’s address the topic of direct access.

Did you know that you have the freedom to choose your own physical therapist?

Ø  Currently, you may be evaluated by a PT without a physician’s referral in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  In addition, all 50 states and the District of Columbia allow some level of treatment by a PT without a physician’s referral.  This is referred to as “direct access” to physical therapy services.

Ø  Some insurance policies may require you to see a primary care provider or physician prior to seeing a physical therapist.  Also, some insurers may limit your access to preferred providers only.  Contact your insurance company to make sure you are aware of any of these policies.

Ø  If you have Medicare as your primary insurance, you are able to see a PT for an evaluation without a physician’s referral.  The PT would then send the plan of care to the patient’s physician for signature.  Once this is signed, treatment can be continued.

Ø  Your physician may refer you for physical therapy that is provided in the physician’s office, or to a facility in which the physician has a financial interest.  However, you are not obligated to attend PT in any specific facility or location.  You can choose where you would prefer to attend physical therapy and which licensed physical therapist you would like to see- if you have a preference.

Now that you know all about the benefits of PT and your ability to choose your physical therapist, the next time you have an aching knee, a bum shoulder, or an injured lower back, consider finding a physical therapist to help you get back to moving well!

You can find a physical therapist in your area at www.moveforwardpt.com

The 4 P's of Energy Conservation

The 4 P’s of Energy Conservation

Laura Johnson, PT, DPT

Has it been exhausting for you to complete your typical morning routine, or maybe you are having shortness of breath while grocery shopping?  When individuals have a diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), or Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), or are recovering from a recent illness or surgery, it can be difficult to complete daily chores due to fatigue and decreased activity tolerance.  Your lungs and heart may not be working as efficiently as they should, so it is important to conserve energy throughout the day.

In order to succeed, there are 4 simple steps to consider, and we are going to refer to these as the 4 P’s of Energy Conservation

1.     PRIORITIZE: Decide what needs to be done today, and what can wait for a later date.  Try to scatter your household chores throughout the week.  One day for laundry, next day for vacuuming and another day for grocery shopping.  If you are partaking in a social engagement, plan to skip some daily activities to reserve some energy before the fun begins! A good quality rest period each day is best!

 2.     PLAN: Plan ahead to avoid extra trips.  Gather supplies and equipment needed before starting an activity.  For example, before showering, make sure your towel, clothes and necessary daily items are all located in the bathroom area.  Also have a chair available to provide yourself a seated rest break if needed.  Another technique is to plan to alternate heavy and light tasks.  Find a good balance between work, rest and leisure.

3.     PACE: Slow and steady pace, never rushing!  Some individuals try to complete as many tasks as possible, as quickly as possible.  Unfortunately, this leads to complete exhaustion, and inability to perform tasks later in the day.  This can also lead to a greater chance of falls due to increased fatigue: We all know a fall can be extremely traumatic.  Plan to rest before you feel tired. Provide yourself with enough time to take short, frequent rest breaks. 

4.     POSITION: Think about your body position while completing tasks throughout the day.  Bending and reaching can cause fatigue and shortness of breath.  There is adaptive equipment available to make some daily tasks less stressful on your body.   Examples are: 1) Use a reacher to grasp the cleaning supplies in the low cupboard, 2) Use elastic shoe laces to avoid bending over to tie your shoes, or 3) Use a sock aid to get your socks or compression stockings on.  Eliminating some strain when bending or reaching will allow your lungs to expand more fully, which in turn helps get more oxygen into the body. 

Conserving your energy can allow you to complete the tasks you want to complete throughout the day.  You do not want to run out of energy before the day is through and we definitely do not want you to entirely stop your activity for constant rest.  Get moving, but move smarter!

If you’re interested in developing an energy conservation plan specific to your needs, contact one of our physical or occupational therapists today to discuss it further.

Click here for a complete list of locations.

Image by Pavlofox from Pixabay

Are You a Smart Consumer of Healthcare?

ARE YOU A SMART CONSUMER OF HEALTHCARE

Think about the last time you made a big purchase, say $1,000 or more. Did you go out and buy the first thing you saw? Take one recommendation from somebody? Or did you research it, learn some things, compare it to other options, and select something that was right for you? Most people tend to be educated and research large purchases like cars, televisions, or the newest iphone. So why do we so often fail to do this with healthcare?

By becoming more educated healthcare consumers we can go from passive patients who take the first recommendation that comes from a practitioner to an active consumer who weighs options and makes choices. Here are some questions to talk through with your practitioner the next time a healthcare decision comes up.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OR EXPECTED RESULTS?

When a treatment or procedure is recommended, the patient often assumes that it will make them "better." But what the patient expects and what the healthcare provider expects are often two different things. For example, a patient having back surgery expects to be pain free after surgery. The surgeon probably doesn't expect that to happen. Outcomes from back surgeries are terrible. A large study of 1450 patients in the Ohio worker's comp system showed that after 2 years 26% of patients who had surgery returned to work. Compare that to 67% of patients who didn't have surgery. There was also a 41% increase in the use of painkillers in the surgical group.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS AND DOWNSIDES?

Patients want to hear about the benefits of a treatment, but they often don't ask or care about the risks. To be an educated consumer, you need to. If one treatment has a 3% edge over another, but has a high risk of making you itchy or causing frequent headaches, do you want it? Going back to the back surgery study from before, the researchers found a 1 in 4 chance of a repeat surgery and a 1 in 3 chance of a major complication. With surgery you risk infection, blood clots, complications with anesthesia, and a whole host of other things. These risks need compared with other treatments. In the case of back pain, physical therapy is a valid alternative with a much lower risk profile. You might have some soreness with physical therapy, you might sweat some and be challenged with exercise, but the risks of PT compared to surgery are minimal.

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?

Don't feel bad asking about alternative treatments. If you were looking at a certain car you wouldn't go out and just buy it. You'd at least consider the competitors and probably even test drive them. You should at least look at the other options in healthcare too. Maybe the first recommendation that your practitioner makes is the right one for you, but if you don't consider the alternatives you'll never really know.

WHY THIS TREATMENT OVER THE OTHER ONES?

This is the question where the rubber meets the road. You've learned about all the options, now you can see if your practitioner is balancing the risks and benefits to make the right choice for you. Staying with the back pain example, research shows that more than 40% of people who seek care for back pain will not receive a treatment of known effectiveness. Back pain is also the #1 reason for opioid prescriptions, despite a 2016 recommendation from the CDC to avoid prescribing opioids for back pain, and opt for non-drug treatments like physical therapy. By asking for the rationale and carefully weighing options, you can avoid being one of the people who gets an ineffective treatment.

WHAT'S IT COST?

This last question is becoming more important as patients bear an increasing share of the cost of healthcare. Even if you don't have a high deductible plan or hefty co-pays, by being financially responsible today, you'll probably see smaller price increases in your premiums down the road. That back surgery that we've been talking about? It'll likely cost between $60,000 and $80,000. So if we put the whole picture together, a patient who takes the first recommendation for surgery will have a $60,000 procedure that leads to a higher risk of disability, and a higher risk of long term painkiller use, while risking infection, and blood clots. Don't forget the 25% chance that you'll get to do it all again in a repeat surgery. Seems like a bad deal. An educated consumer would learn that physical therapy is a viable alternative to surgery with comparable outcomes, much less risk and lower cost. In fact, a large study of 122,723 subjects showed that people with back pain who got physical therapy in the first 14 days lowered their healthcare costs by 60%. It's easy to see why bargain shoppers love PT!

Hidden Orthopedic Cell Phone Dangers

Your Smart Phone Could Be Rapidly Aging Your Spine

Chances are that you probably haven’t given much thought to how your neck and back are faring in the era of the smart phone, but studies show that you most certainly should. It’s practically a reflex these days to pull out our smart phones when we’re standing in line, sitting at the airport or riding the subway. And while it’s great that we rarely need to venture beyond our pockets for entertainment, our bodies are beginning to retaliate—and mourn the pre-texting days.

So, what exactly are these contemporary conveniences doing to our bodies? A surgeon-led study that published in Surgical Technology International assessed what impact surgeons’ head and neck posture during surgery—a posture similar to that of smart-phone texters—has on their cervical spines. With each degree that our heads flex forward (as we stare at a screen below eye level), the strain on our spines dramatically increases. When an adult head (that weighs 10 to 12 pounds in the neutral position) tilts forward at 30 degrees, the weight seen by the spine climbs to a staggering 40 pounds, according to the study.

How pervasive of a problem is this? According to the study, the average person spends 14 to 28 hours each week with their heads tilted over a laptop, smart phone or similar device. Over the course of a year, that adds up to 700 to 1400 hours of strain and stress on our spines. As a result, the number of people dealing with headaches, achy necks and shoulders and other associated pain has skyrocketed. Trained to address postural changes and functional declines, physical therapists are well-versed in treating this modern-day phenomenon, widely known as “text neck.”

Over time, this type of poor posture can have a cumulative effect, leading to spine degeneration, pinched nerves and muscle strains. Scheduling an appointment with a physical therapist can help people learn how to interact with their devices without harming their spines. The PT will prescribe an at-home program that includes strategies and exercises that focus on preserving the spine and preventing long- term damage.

Exercise is an important part of taking care of our spines as we age, but what we do when we’re not in motion matters, too. So next time you pick up your smart phone or curl up with your e-reader, do a quick check of your head and neck posture. Your body will thank you for years to come.

Content borrowed from PPS, reviewed by Jason Koenigs, PT

Jason Koenigs, PT

Do You Know Your Movement Vital Signs?

Do You Know Your Movement Vital Signs?

Most people think of heart rate or blood pressure when they think of vital signs. It is common to use numbers to quantify health and risk of disease. The American Heart Association encourages people to "know their numbers" referring to blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood glucose, and weight. However, research is now showing the importance of moving properly for health. Let's take a look at some of the numbers you can use to quantify your movement health: Walking Speed Walking speed has been called the "sixth vital sign" in medical literature recently. It is easy to measure, and takes into account strength, balance, coordination, confidence, cardiovascular fitness, tolerance to activity, and a whole host of other factors. It has also been shown to be predictive of future hospitalizations, functional decline, and overall mortality. Normal walking speed is considered to be 2.6-3.1 mph.

Push Ups - Push ups are popular to build strength, but a recent study found that they can show us a lot about your heart too. Researchers found that men who could do 40 or more consecutive push ups were at a 96% lower risk for cardiovascular disease than were men who could do less than 10. The push up test was also more useful in predicting future cardiovascular disease than aerobic capacity measured on a treadmill.

Grip Strength -Hand grip strength has been shown to be strongly correlated with health. The stronger your hand grip is, the less likely you are to suffer from cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, COPD, and all types of cancer. In the study, muscle weakness was defined as grip strength <26 kg (57 pounds) for men and <16 kg (35 pounds) for women. Grip strength below these numbers was highly correlated with an increase in disease.

Standing From the Floor - If you can't easily get down on the floor and back up your health might be in trouble, according to a study that looked at more than 2,000 people. The study asked people to go from standing to sitting on the floor and back up with as little support as needed. They found that if you need to use more than one hand to get up and down from the floor that you were 2 to 5 times more likely to die in the next 7 years than someone who can do it with just one hand, or even better, no hands at all.

Moving well is obviously important to overall health and longer life. These tests can give a snapshot of how you're doing. If you're having trouble with any of them, considering seeing a movement specialist - your physical therapist.

Content Credit : APTA PPS TOOLKIT

Photo Credit : RUN 4 FFWPU @ Pexels.com

I Laughed So Hard that Tears Ran Down My Leg.

Kim Johnson, MPT

If you find the title of this rings even slightly true for yourself or someone you know, then physical therapy with a pelvic specialist would be beneficial. A therapist that specializes in the pelvic floor can work with a variety of diagnoses and conditions including: pelvic pain, post-surgical care (post-prostatectomy, post-hysterectomy to name a few), pregnancy and post-partum, and by far the most widespread condition we treat is urinary incontinence.

Incontinence can present itself in a variety of ways, for example, “I only leak when I cough, laugh, or sneeze” or “I just can’t seem to get in the house fast enough when I get home.” The most common types of incontinence are stress, urge or a mix of both.

Stress Incontinence relates to physical stressors which can cause leakage. Stressors include but are not limited to: coughing, laughing, sneezing, lifting, running, changing position, and squatting down. Often times with stress incontinence there is a small volume loss of urine. Stress incontinence is typically a product of pelvic floor muscle weakness or motor dysfunction, and can be treated very successfully with conservative physical therapy.

Urge incontinence occurs when you have a very strong and immediate urge to urinate. Essentially the bladder contracts at the wrong time. Typically with urge incontinence there is a large volume of urine lost, compared to stress incontinence. Treating urge incontinence sometimes requires a combination of strengthening, soft tissue work, habit retraining, and possibly medication intervention..

Many people actually suffer from a mix of both stress and urge incontinence. Your physical therapist will work to provide a thorough physical therapy diagnosis of each individual’s situation, and together with the patient will develop a customized treatment plan based on that patient’s case. The treatment can include strengthening, bladder retraining, manual therapy, breathing work, relaxation, dietary recommendations, and biofeedback. What a person is eating and drinking can play a huge role in continence. For example, caffeine is a bladder irritant. Sometimes just removing most caffeine from a diet can calm the bladder and allow a person to sleep through the night instead of being woken multiple times to urinate. Often time people don’t consume enough water through the day and that also can cause issues. Water will dilute urine, making it less irritating to the bladder wall. This can reduce frequency, urgency and urine leakage.

Time and time again I have had people say that their leakage is “normal.” I would disagree; incontinence is common but definitely not “normal.” Just because you have had a baby or are over the age of 65 does not mean that you should have to deal with incontinence. So many men and women live their lives around their incontinence, and it does not have to be so. Therapy is a non-surgical option, which can be very helpful and liberating. Please seek out one of our Pelvic Floor therapists if you, or someone that you know, is suffering with incontinence.

For more information visit our site at https://www.advancedptsm.com/pelvic-health

Let me give you a helping hand!

By Jen Taber, OT, CHT

Summer is here and we are anxious to participate in our favorite activities! We often don’t think about how big a part our hands play in helping us to do those things we love. Sometimes pain can prevent us from enjoying activities to their fullest, but there are helpful tips that can be incorporated to minimize the symptoms. They are called joint protection techniques.

“Joint protection techniques are ways of doing activities so that the risk of overuse/pain is decreased. These techniques can be included into all activities and will help to reduce the stress on your joints. Joints that have already been weakened by arthritis are at risk of being damaged by stress and strain. Improper use of diseased joints may lead to impaired function and deformity.” (Spectrum Health Joint Protection Techniques handout)

For example, if you enjoy gardening, make sure you are breaking up the tasks or switching activities so that you are not constantly grasping the handles of the shovel or pinching to pull up weeds. This ensures that a variety of muscles are being used and joint surfaces do not become overly compressed and irritated. Adaptations to tools such as enlarged/padded handles or spring loaded options, can decrease stresses on the joints for those who have arthritis to accomplish tasks much easier.

Some people enjoy mowing the lawn but it can also be taxing to the small joints of the hand. Holding onto the handles for long periods of time or the vibration can cause numbness/tingling in the hands. Periodic breaks during an activity like this is important. Also, using anti-vibration gloves may be helpful in reducing the impact to the carpal tunnel area and can be found at a local hardware store or online.

Finally, you should prioritize activities you want to accomplish during the day. Consider how long the activity takes and plan those that are more difficult to do during times that allow you to take breaks. Regardless of the activity, respecting pain is of utmost importance.

Hopefully the tips mentioned above, assist you in completing the activities you have been waiting months to do! SO GET OUT THERE AND ENJOY!

Photo by Zhivko - Pixabay

No Referral Need for PT

By Andy Taber, PT, DPT

It still surprises me how many patients are not aware of the choices they have when seeking medical care, and in particular, physical therapy! As an advocate for my profession, I always try to be proactive in educating and informing patients of their rights when seeking medical treatment.

Under current Wisconsin law, Direct Access allows physical therapists to evaluate and treat patients without a referral from a doctor.

Historically, one of the main barriers between injured patients and proper PT services was the necessity of a doctor’s referral prior to any appointments. This extra step often prevents patients from seeking treatment from a qualified physical therapist. Indeed, each year, over 100 million Americans suffer from wellness and mobility impairments, and yet only 10% actually make their way to a physical therapy clinic. With the implementation of Direct Access, however, the process is streamlining. By placing the power directly into the hands of consumers and clinicians, direct access provides a new avenue through which a patient can receive evaluation and treatment for a host of injuries or conditions.

Put simply, Direct Access grants the patient the ability to “refer themselves” to their desired physical therapist, who may then provide evaluation and treatment without the sign-off of a physician. This may seem like a small deviation from the standard medical referral model, but in actuality, it could potentially have a profound effect on eliminating much of the bureaucratic red tape that the previous referral system was built upon. Some key benefits of this reform are as follows:

1. Direct Access eliminates the burden of extraneous visits to physicians. The referral requirement can cause delays and denials of services provided by physical therapists. These delays in care result in higher costs, decreased functional outcomes, and frustration to patients!

2. It promotes more efficient treatment by eliminating sometimes unnecessary and frequently expensive diagnostic testing, like MRI’s and X-Ray’s.

3. Direct Access can lead to both a better treatment experience and outcome for the client. Patients who visited a physical therapist directly for outpatient care had fewer visits (27%) and lower overall costs on average than those who were referred by a physician while maintaining continuity of care within the overall medical system and showing no difference in health care use in the 60 days after the physical therapy episode.

Direct Access also allows for patients to be treated sooner rather than later. Sometimes, injuries are not addressed until weeks, or even months, after originating. This may be due to patients having a difficult time getting in to see a specialist or reluctance in seeking treatment due to uncertainty on which doctor to see. Have you ever tried to “ride out” pain because you didn’t want to spend the time or money on doctor’s visits, specialists, procedures and medications? There is a better way to manage and treat your pain! In Wisconsin, the Direct Access law allows most people with most insurances to see a physical therapist without a prescription or referral from a doctor.

Physical Therapists are experts on the musculoskeletal system, including:

• Pain from muscle injuries

• Joint pain like arthritis

• Nagging back or neck pain

• Sports injuries

• Recovery from broken bones or fractures

• Post-operative rehabilitation

• Vertigo and other balance issues

• A host of other pain resulting muscle, bone and joint problems.

Physical therapists are also trained to ask the right questions, explore all possible causes, offer a clinical diagnosis and let you know if a customized PT plan is right for you - or if you should seek additional insight from a doctor or specialist. Now, most patients can see a physical therapist the same day of an injury, if desired! Treating injuries sooner will not only help speed up the healing process, but it may also decrease the financial burden of medical diagnoses that linger for longer periods of time. Research has shown that early physical therapy treatment decreases overall medical expenses in the long run, for a particular diagnosis!

If you are currently suffering from a recent injury or a nagging issue that’s been around for several weeks or months, feel free to stop by and speak with one of our therapists at Advanced Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine to determine how we can help you on your road to recovery!

Click here for a complete list of locations and therapists.