Breaking the Cycle: How Physical Therapy Modalities Impact Emergency Department Visits in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Abstract

Aim: Low back pain (LBP) is a common health problem worldwide and ranks among the top ten reasons for emergency department (ED) visits, although most cases do not require immediate care. This study aimed to compare ED visits for LBP during a 6-month follow-up period between patients receiving a home-based exercise program and those receiving additional physical therapy (PT) modalities, exploring a previously uninvestigated aspect. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 419 patients with chronic LBP treated at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation from July 2021 to January 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: those who received a home-based exercise program and those who received PT modalities in addition to exercise programs. Using appropriate statistical methods, the two groups were analyzed for their ED visits and potential influencing factors during a 6-month follow-up period. p<0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results: Patients receiving physiotherapy had significantly fewer ED visits during the 6-month follow-up period (p=0.001). No association was observed between ED visits and patient demographics. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that integrating PT modalities into the management of chronic LBP resulted in fewer ED visits.