A new study led by faculty from Duke Orthopaedic Surgery in collaboration with the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) is shedding light on how patients experience disability over time following physical therapy for musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.
Published in BMJ Open, the study—titled “Self-reported disability trajectories and their predictors among patients receiving care by physical therapists for musculoskeletal conditions”—analyzed data from more than 597,000 patients across 900 physical therapy clinics in 26 states. The research team included Duke Orthopaedics faculty Dr. Trevor Lentz, Dr. Chad Cook, and Dr. Steven George, along with collaborators from DCRI and ATI Physical Therapy, one of the largest physical therapy providers in the US.
“These findings offer a real-world perspective on outcomes following exposure to services provided by physical therapists,” said Dr. Lentz. “Notably, this work identifies patients most at risk for worsening disability or minimal change. These insights can help us improve or restructure care to better meet patients’ needs.”
The study highlights how factors such as age, comorbidities, mental and physical health, social determinants, and insurance status influence disability trajectories. By identifying these predictors, clinicians and healthcare systems can better tailor interventions, allocate resources more effectively, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
This research represents a significant step forward in understanding the long-term impact of physical therapy on MSK conditions. Congratulations to the full research team, including Uchechukwu Ikeaba, Brooke Alhanti, Adam Lutz, and Chuck Thigpen.
Read the full publication: BMJ Open