MDNews - Greater Boston

ANY AMOUNT OF pain can be a nuisance to your patients' lives, especially when it lasts for a while. Narcotics and pain medications are one option for treating pain, but a better one is often a good physi- cal therapist. The United States is currently experi- encing an epidemic of addiction to pain medications, especially opioids. Though our country represents less than 5 percent of the world's population, we consume more than 80 percent of the global supply of opioids. The number of prescriptions for opioids increased by 600 percent from 1997–2007, and there has been a threefold increase in the abuse of these drugs over the past several years. Although some patients su•er from painful conditions that can't be treated with anything else, there are many more for whom these medications merely o•er immediate short-term relief, and fail to address the underlying problem. Physical therapy, on the other hand, o•ers a wide range of possible benefits that far outweigh any risks involved. A good physical therapist is always focused on finding the origin of the pain, unlike narcotics, which merely mask a patient's perception or sensation of pain. A good physical therapist will treat a patient's pain by improving the mobility of the painful area and the stability of the surrounding areas, often providing a far superior long-term solution. Additionally, physical therapy often results in improved overall mobility, not just to the area of pain, which can lead to the prevention or improvement of other hea lth prob- lems, as the patient is able to live a more active lifestyle. Physical therapy is not just a temporary solution, but rather is often the best option for managing pain for your patients. However, not all physical therapists and physical therapy practices are the same. Too many referrals are made based merely on the proximity of the facility to the patient's home or work. But just like physician practices, the di•erences in physical therapy facilities can sometimes be stark. It's well worth sending a patient to a more distant location if it means he or she will get more appropriate care. One critical factor to consider when helping to direct your patients to the right facilit y should include ma king sure that most of the physical therapists are licensed doctors of physical therapy, which means that they have completed at least six to seven years of education and several clinical rotations before passing their licensing exam. Also, your patients deserve immediate relief and should never have to wait for more than a week or two at most for an initial appointment. Another important consideration is the length of your patient's visits. You can't get much done in a 30-minute physical therapy visit, and a treatment plan that only focuses on strengthening exercises or only on passive modalities, such as heat and ultrasound, is not a complete treatment . Bot h t he eva luation a nd the follow-up visits should last at least 60 minutes and should include a mix of both mobility and stability activities. Effor ts a re currently under way to reduce t he number of opioids being prescribed, both locally and nationally. Meanwhile, the CDC has cited "high- quality evidence" that physical therapy is an e•ective alternative for treating numerous familiar conditions such as low back pain, hip and knee pain, osteo- arthritis and fibromyalgia. So the next time a patient presents with orthopedic pain, whether acute or chronic, think physical therapy first. It may not only help reduce the country's dependence on opioids, but it could also have other positive e•ects, such as a hap- pier, healthier and more active patient. Jonathan Mullis is the owner of Mullis and Associates Physical Therapy, which has locations in Braintree and Boston. Fo r m o re info r m ati o n o r to refe r a patient, please visit www.mullispt.com or call 888-697-8123. ■ #ChoosePT – A Safer Alternative to Pain Medications BY JONATHAN MULLIS 2 2❱❱❱❱❱ 2 2❱❱❱❱❱ P R A C T I C E M A N A G E M E N T

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