We’re well aware of the benefits of physical therapy for physical ailments and injuries… and it’s no secret that PT can help speed up the healing process, especially with pre and post-surgery sessions. However, a new group of people are reaping the benefits of physical therapy – and what they have in common is quite interesting.
Medicare Beneficiaries & Physical Therapy
Medicare is available for a select group of people. According to www.medicare.gov, “Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. You’re first eligible to sign up for Medicare 3 months before you turn 65. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease).”
These are the very people benefitting most from physical therapy! A new study from the Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation (APTQI) notes the shocking cost-saving benefits of physical therapy, plus the unparalleled health benefits. The key findings are as follows:
- PT Users were 50% less likely to visit the emergency room or be hospitalized for a
follow-up injury in the 6 months following their initial fall.
- They remained less likely to visit the ER or be hospitalized for a follow-up injury in the
7-18 months post-fall.
- The relative odds of ER and hospitalization were lowest for the patients who had >30 PT
sessions.
- We estimate that increased PT use by 100 beneficiaries prone to falls could result in an
offsetting reduction in total healthcare spending of as much as $61,400-$91,900.
- PT users were also 39% less likely to use opioids in the 6 months following their initial
fall.
- PT users remained less likely to use opioids for the 6-18 month post-fall period.
The study focused on patients with a variety of conditions and circumstances and as noted above, found impressive results for those patients who had experienced a fall.
“We found that overall PT users were 50% less likely to have an injury-related hospitalization and 50% less likely to have an injury-related ED visit in the 6 months following their initial fall. We found that this effect diminished in the following 12 months, with PT users being 11% less likely to be hospitalized in months 7-12 and 7% less likely to be hospitalized in months 13-18. Similarly, the effect on ED visits declines with time, with PT users 13% less likely to visit the ED in months 7-12 and 11% less likely to visit the ED in months 13-18.”
Physical Therapy Has Unparalleled Benefits
The study proves what physical therapists have known for years: physical therapy increases strength, speeds up healing, and supports the patient’s overall health in a variety of ways. Yes, physical therapy does take some time. However, the healing process can be significantly prolonged without physical therapy, especially when the patient is healing from an injury, preparing for surgery, or recovering from surgery.
Finding a Physical Therapist in Irving, Texas
Do you or a loved one need physical therapy? Call us at Physical Therapy NOW in Irving to set up your first appointment today. We have supported Medicare recipients with the highest quality rehabilitation care in Irving and surrounding areas for many years, and we would be proud to support you, too. Let’s start your healing journey together.
