Description of Common Clinical Presentations and Associated Short Term Physical Therapy Clinical Outcomes and Utilization in Patients with Neck Pain.

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Description of Common Clinical Presentations and Associated Short Term Physical Therapy Clinical Outcomes and Utilization in Patients with Neck Pain.

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2015 Jul 9;

Authors: Horn ME, Brennan GP, George SZ, Harman JS, Bishop MD

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of clinical presentations of neck pain on short term physical therapy outcomes.
DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of pair matched groups from a clinical cohort SETTING: 13 outpatient physical therapy clinics in one healthcare system.
PARTICIPANTS: 1069 patients grouped by common clinical presentations of neck pain: Nonspecific neck pain (NSNP) with a duration less than 4weeks, NSNP greater than 4weeks, neck pain with arm pain, neck pain with headache and whiplash.
INTERVENTION: Conservative interventions provided by physical therapists MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) recorded at the initial and last visits. The main outcome of interest was achieving recovery status on the NDI. Change in NDI and NPRS were compared between clinical presentation groups.
RESULTS: Compared to patients presenting with NSNP >4weeks, patients with NSNP <4weeks had increased odds of achieving recovery status on the NDI (p<0.0001), demonstrated the greatest changes in clinical outcomes of pain (p=<0.0001) and disability (p=<0.0001). Patients with neck pain and arm pain demonstrated an increased odds of achieving recovery status on the NDI (p=0.03) compared to patients presenting with NSNP >4weeks.
CONCLUSIONS: Treating patients with NSNP within <4weeks of onset of symptoms may lead to improved clinical outcomes from physical therapy compared to other common clinical presentations.

PMID: 26166733 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]