PHYSICAL THERAPY AND HEALTH OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH SPINAL IMPAIRMENTS

Background and Purpose. Little is known concerning the effects of phys ical therapy on health outcomes in patients with spinal impairments. T his research examined the pattern of health outcomes in patients with spinal impairments and the relationship of outcomes to the physical th erapy provided. Subjects. Data were obtained from 1,097 patients with spinal impairments who completed an episode of care in any of 68 physi cal therapy practices across the United States. Methods. Data were der ived from the Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes database during 1993 and 1 994. Multivariate analyses were used to determine which of the treatme nt variables, controlled for baseline health status and relevant patie nt characteristics, were related to outcomes. Results. Improvement occ urred in nearly all health scales. Inclusion of endurance exercise was most consistently associated with better outcomes. Inclusion of heat or cold modalities was associated with poorer outcomes. Conclusion and Discussion. This study suggests that physical therapists take a broad er view of patient-related goals and documentation of outcomes. It als o provides evidence that the type of intervention is related to outcom es in patients with spinal impairments.