Researchers have documented the beneficial effect of physical therapy after severe trauma such as your son experienced. A special study called the Lower Extremity Assessment Project (LEAP) project has collected data on patients at eight level I trauma centers in the United States.
Analysis of the information collected shows that patients who are identified as needing physical therapy don’t always get these services. Those who do, have better overall results as measured by range-of-motion, physical activities, daily self-care, and walking or climbing stairs.
Why doesn’t everyone get this kind of treatment? There may not be one single reason. First, there are always reimbursement issues to consider. Patients with adequate health insurance are more likely to get the help they need. Those who don’t have health care coverage and have to pay expenses out-of-pocket may bypass the services.
Second, there isn’t a standard measure to help orthopedic surgeons or primary care physicians identify who needs therapy. Third, some patients are just more likely than others to seek additional services. This idea is referred to as patient self-selection.
The benefits of physical therapy for various health care problems are currently under investigation. Studies show positive effects of physical therapy for patients with total hip replacements, chronic low back pain, whiplash injuries, strokes, and hip fractures. As more studies are done, further information will be added to help insurance companies and self-paying patients see the long-term benefit of this valuable service. In the end, early and adequate rehab can save third party payers and patients money.