A study by Lutz et al in 2022 sought to discover what treatment style made physical therapists “better,” as defined by better outcome measures, for managing lower back pain. As a result, they found that the outperforming physical therapists used more skilled interventions and even required fewer visits to get their patients better. Skilled intervention, as they defined, involves both active (exercise-based) and manual (hands-on) physical therapy techniques, requiring the “skilled and/or one-on-one attention of a licensed physical therapist.” To break this down simply, it means that you are under direct supervision of the physical therapist when doing intentional exercises to your goals and needs, treated with a hands-on approach, and not simply ignored or passed off to another physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, student physical therapist, or technician. To the contrary, the underperforming PTs used more filler treatments, including heat, ice, ultrasound, e-stim, etc.
Many of my clients openly tell me that it helps when their spouse or massage therapist massages or “works on” their areas of pain. When asked if they received hands-on physical therapy – such as soft tissue mobilization, joint mobilization, or dry needling – they often say “no.” Why, I ask, when the person openly tells me what does and will help them, and the research proves it. Is manual therapy the only answer? No. However, it is a factor to the equation, as is exercise, that needs to be specifically tailored to each client.
Our model is designed to ensure our clients are always one-on-one with our Physical Therapists. Our Physical Therapists are evidence-based clinicians with specializations in Orthopedic conditions. As a result, we individualize your plan to you – using our research, our experience, and our client’s needs. There are no cookie-cutter regimens. At our free consultations, our client receives a free assessment and recommended plan, specific to their symptoms, goals, and abilities.
Lutz, A. D., Slocum, S. L., Sizer, P. S., & Dedeker, B. S. (2022). A comparison of treatment signatures of high and low performing physical therapists for patients with lower back pain: analysis of spine care from a physical therapy outcomes registry. The Spine Journal, 22(5), 847–856.