Direct Access to Physical Therapy May Speed Recovery
Worldwide Support for Direct Access to Physical Therapy on the Rise
The idea of direct access grew out of the immense popularity of Physical Therapy. Direct Access is the right to see a physical therapist without prior referral from another doctor. The law was popular, and spread to all 50 states by 2015. “Moriarty Physical Therapy of the Hudson Valley offers the most progressive treatment programs available.” – Dr. John Quinn.
New studies have shown that seeing a physical therapist first may shorten your recovery time.
The (Journal of Occupational Medicine, 2010) studied patients suffering from muscle and skeletal problems that would take them away from work and daily activities. Patients who underwent physical therapy treatments saw their productivity at work improved by nearly two-thirds and their health score improved markedly, by over 80%.
Those patients surveyed reported that the physical therapy they received reduced and eliminated work related absences.
Direct Access is now available without a doctor referral.
Modern day physical therapy offices today are now able to diagnose injuries and diseases that cause pain. The aforementioned study shows the benefit of receiving therapy early, which can allow patients to recover faster. You can also find physical therapists checking in hospital outpatients, ensuring their recovery.
When guidelines are not followed and physical therapy is neglected, patients may heal incorrectly. Further studies surveying physical therapy centers equipped for direct access found (Physiotherapy Journal, 2015) that self-referred patients, required fewer sessions on average than referred patients.
Addley, K., C. Burke, and P. Mcquillan. “Impact of a direct access occupational physiotherapy treatment service.” Occupational Medicine 60.8 (2010): 651-53. Web.
Scheermesser, Mandy, Lara Allet, and Elisabeth Burge. “Direct access to Physical therapy in Switzerland: linguistic and cultural validation of a questionnaire, and Physical therapists’ attitude.” Kinésithérapie, la Revue 12.124 (2012): 29-37. Web.
Lankhorst, N., D. Barten, R. Meerhof, S. Bierma-Zeinstra, and M. Van Middelkoop. “Physical therapy for knee and ankle complaints: direct access compared to a referral from general practice.” Physiotherapy 101 (2015): n. pag. Web.
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