USE OF ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES BY REHABILITATION OUTPATIENTS

Citation
Sf. Wainapel et al., USE OF ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES BY REHABILITATION OUTPATIENTS, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 79(8), 1998, pp. 1003-1005
Citations number
8
Categorie Soggetti
Rehabilitation,"Sport Sciences
ISSN journal
00039993
Volume
79
Issue
8
Year of publication
1998
Pages
1003 - 1005
Database
ISI
SICI code
0003-9993(1998)79:8<1003:UOATBR>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
Objective: To document the prevalence and patterns of use of alternati ve medical therapies as well as their perceived effectiveness by patie nts in a rehabilitation medicine outpatient practice. Design: Cross-se ctional survey by written questionnaire. Setting: An urban rehabilitat ion medicine outpatient referral office. Patients: A random sample of 103 patients referred for rehabilitation outpatient care, while waitin g for their appointment, were given a questionnaire addressing their u se of alternative therapies. Main Outcome Measures: Use of alternative therapies and their perceived effectiveness. Results: One or more alt ernative medical therapies had been used by 29.1% of subjects in the p ast 12 months for their presenting problem. The most common therapies were massage, chiropractic, vitamin and mineral supplementation, and a cupuncture. Musculoskeletal pain syndromes involving the spine and ext remities were the most common problems for which patients sought both physiatric and alternative care. Of the patients who used alternative treatments 53% reported some degree of efficacy. Conclusions: A signif icant proportion of rehabilitation medicine patients use and frequentl y perceive a benefit from alternative therapies, particularly massage, chiropractic, vitamin and mineral supplementation, and acupuncture. I ncorporating alternative: therapies into physiatric practice is a desi rable future direction for the specialty. (C) 1998 by the American Con gress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.