{
  "abstract": "Background Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability globally and the second most common reason for medical consultations in the United States. Approximately 80% of adults experience LBP during their lifetime. Work-related back injuries affect nearly 2% of the U.S. workforce daily, with nurse assistants comprising over 52% of these cases. Notably, 85% of LBP cases are classified as non-specific, contributing to an estimated annual economic burden of $100 billion.Objective This retrospective, quantitative, exploratory study evaluated the impact of early physical therapy (PT) initiation on return-to-work (RTW) times among employed adults with work-related acute LBP.Methods A total of 67 participants ( table 1) were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 22) received PT within 24 hours of injury, while Group 2 (n = 45) experienced delayed PT initiation. RTW times were compared using ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U tests.Results Although statistical significance was not achieved (p = 0.175), descriptive analysis revealed that Group 1 returned to work in a mean of 16.2 days (SD = 17.9; range: 1–73), compared to 20.1 days (SD = 17.1; range: 1–77) in Group 2—a difference of 3.9 days ( table 2). Across age and gender subgroups, early PT was associated with a 2.7 to 10-day reduction in RTW time (table 3). The average number of PT sessions required to achieve pre-injury functional goals was similar between groups (4.29–4.86 sessions), with a median of 4 sessions in both (table 4).Conclusion While not statistically significant, early initiation of PT within 24 hours of work-related acute LBP may offer clinically meaningful reductions in disability duration and facilitate earlier RTW. These findings support the potential value of incorporating early PT into occupational health protocols to enhance workforce productivity and reduce healthcare costs.Abstract 44 Table 1Demographic variables for the respondents N = 67 Participant Characteristics n % Gender Female 17 25 Male 50 75 Age(years) 21–30 10 14.93 31–40 20 29.85 41–50 24 35.82 51–60 12 17.91 61–70 1 1.49 Abstract 44 Table 2Descriptive statistics for return-to-work time (days) Physical Therapy Implementation Mean ± SD Median Range Same Day PT (N = 22) 16.2 ± 17.9 10 (1–73) Delayed PT (N = 45) 20.1 ± 17.0 16 (1–78) Abstract 44 Table 3Return-to-work time (days) by age group and gender within physical therapy timing groups Same Day Physical Therapy Delayed Physical Therapy N Mean ± SD Median Range N Mean ± SD Median Range Age (years) ≤ 40 13 14.6 ± 18.7 9 1–7 18 17.3 ± 12.3 17 1–45 >40 9 18.6 ± 17.7 16 5–62 27 21.9 ± 19.5 16 1–78 Gender Female 4 17.6 ± 19.5 11 1–18 13 27.6 ± 21.4 28 2–78 Male 18 10.3 ± 6.99 9 5–73 32 17.0 ±1 4.1 15 1–65 Abstract 44 Table 4Return-to-work time (days) by age group and gender within physical therapy timing groups Same Day Physical Therapy Delayed Physical Therapy N Mean ± SD Median Range N Mean ± SD Median Range Age (years) ≤ 40 13 14.6 ± 18.7 9 1–7 18 17.3 ± 12.3 17 1–45 >40 9 18.6 ± 17.7 16 5–62 27 21.9 ± 19.5 16 1–78 Gender Female 4 17.6 ± 19.5 11 1–18 13 27.6 ± 21.4 28 2–78 Male 18 10.3 ± 6.99 9 5–73 32 17.0 ±1 4.1 15 1–65",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Frontier Nursing University"
      ],
      "name": "Pauline Foy"
    }
  ],
  "title": "44 Early physical therapy intervention and return-to-work outcomes in work-related acute low back pain: a retrospective quantitative study",
  "uid": "f2988a18-b78c-51cc-b2cb-92434616cd0a"
}