Low back pain is the second most common reason patients seek care from their primary care physician. In addition, it is one of the most common reasons people seek care at our Boulder Physical Therapy practice. Due to its’ high incidence in the population, low back pain has become a significant financial burden on our health care system costing tens of billions of dollars each year. The cost of low back pain treatments is higher than the amount we spend on cancer each year. Due to this cost, we need to provide patients with both clinically and cost effective treatments.
Physical Therapy remains an effective treatment of choice for many patients with low back pain. Interventions supported by the medical research literature include patient education, spinal manipulation, and exercise interventions. A recent article also highlights the cost effectiveness of these Physical Therapy interventions. Andronis and colleagues reviewed the cost effectiveness of common conservative (excluding medication) treatments for low back pain (Appl Health Econ Health Policy. 2017). The authors concluded education, exercise, and spinal manipulation remain cost effective treatments for patients with low back pain. To learn more about how Physical Therapy can help you alleviate your low back pain contact your local Physical Therapist.