A study presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons found patients who performed prescribed exercises at home without a physical therapist progressed comparably as those who received physical therapy at an outpatient facility, as reported by Advanced Healthcare Network.
The study included 89 patients who had total hip replacement surgery followed by 10 weeks of physical therapy. Of that group, 48 patients received two to three weekly therapy sessions in outpatient facilities with out-of-pocket costs ranging from $10 to $60 per session for non-Medicare patients. The other 41 patients used written instructions and illustrations to perform the same exercises on their own at no extra cost.
Here are three points:
1. Patients were assessed at one and six months after their procedures using standardized tests assessing levels of pain, activity, range of motion and stiffness.
2. The study found no significant differences between patients in both groups.
3. Matt Austin, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia and the study's senior author said the study also demonstrates how physicians can more optimally utilize health resources and lower costs.