If you love a good bargain, you are going to love the cost of physical therapy.
Unless you live under a rock, you already know that prices of everything have gone up…
Gas is expensive…
Groceries have become really pricey…
You might want to think twice about buying that second home with these prices and interest rates…
And don’t forget about the costly insurance.
It all starts to add up.
And healthcare is a grudge purchase. Even those who love to spend money aren’t necessarily jumping for joy to spend it on their health.
But if you are going to spend money on your health, physical therapy just might be where you will get the most “bang for your buck”.
Physical therapy has proven to be an effective treatment modality that can significantly reduce pain and improve physical function.
Despite its effectiveness, physical therapy is often overlooked as a first-line treatment option due to the perception that it is expensive. However, research shows that physical therapy first can actually result in significant savings for patients and the healthcare system.
An Important “Cost” of Physical Therapy: You Reduce Risk of Surgeries
One of the primary reasons physical therapy first is cost-effective is that it can prevent the need for more invasive and expensive interventions such as surgery. For example, a study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy found that patients who received physical therapy for a torn meniscus in their knee had similar outcomes as those who underwent surgery. However, the physical therapy group had significantly lower healthcare costs than the surgery group. In fact, the study found that patients who received physical therapy first saved an average of $3000 in healthcare costs compared to those who underwent surgery.
Reduce Risk of Chronic Pain Medication Use
Another area where physical therapy can result in cost savings is in the management of chronic conditions such as low back pain. Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a significant driver of healthcare costs. However, research shows that physical therapy can be an effective treatment for low back pain and can reduce the need for imaging, tests, medication, and other more costly interventions. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that patients who received physical therapy as a first line treatment for low back pain had significantly lower healthcare costs than those who received usual care. The physical therapy group had 60% fewer diagnostic tests, 50% fewer pain medication prescriptions, and 43% fewer surgical procedures than the usual care group.
Costs of Time are Negligible Compared to the “Cost” of Physical Therapy
Time is a precious commodity. We all need it and can’t seem to find enough of it.
A paper published in Physical Therapy looked at outcomes when patients went to a physical therapist first vs. seeing a physician first for back pain. It found that patients who went to their physician first needed 33 physical therapy visits on average, while those who went to their physical therapist first only needed 20. Seeing a physical therapist first saves money, but it also saves time.
Cost of Quality of Life
Nobody likes to live in pain. It can limit you from training, stop you from running after the kids and grandkids, and make traveling tough.
In addition to reducing healthcare costs, physical therapy first can also result in indirect cost savings such as increased productivity and decreased absenteeism from work. For example, a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that physical therapy for workers with low back pain resulted in significant improvements in work related outcomes such as absenteeism and productivity. The study found that workers who received physical therapy had 33% fewer days of work missed due to low back pain and 42% fewer work restrictions than those who did not receive physical therapy.
MAKES CENTS (SENSE)
If you are looking to lower the cost of your healthcare, physical therapy just makes sense. It will save you in the short term and in the long term. But, be choosy with who you decide to go to for your physical therapy.
Here’s what to expect at Spark Performance and Physiotherapy:
- One full hour with a Doctor of Physical Therapy for your evaluation, going over the issue you want to recover from or address, and making a plan for how to achieve your goals.
- Follow up sessions lasting 30 or 60 minutes (it will be your choice), which again is one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy
Are you wondering if we are right for you? Click HERE to apply for a FREE discovery visit! Get to know us and let us show you how we can lower the cost of life for you!
