Embarking on a physical therapy program as early as possible is likely to provide increased comfort to people who endure lower back pain, according to recent studies cited by someone who holds a physical therapy job.
Four in five people will have that sort of back pain in their lifetime and it likely will work itself out in a month or so, states a column penned by Gunnar Mossberg, whose practice is in San Diego. But studies have noted that starting earlier with physical therapy helps stave off further healthcare treatments later on.
One study noted that 32,070 people enrolled in employer-sponsored plans discussed pain in the lower back with a primary care physician. People who moved on to physical therapy within two weeks were held against patients who pursued services with a physical therapist 15 to 90 days after the consultation.
Researchers determined 18 months later that the more rapid practice of physical therapy minimized the probability of additional healthcare needs.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapists typically require a doctoral degree.