Check the APTA website for published research into PT interventions that are evidence based. There are over a thousand articles that are reviewed by physical therapists, like you and I, who more than likely have many things to do. The number of articles reviewed continues to grow. Check the APTA link on research, and then "hooked on evidence". OR You could do your own independent medline search on the internet. Good luck.
Lori
On Sat, 24 Jan 2004, Beverly Cusick wrote:
> At 10:40 AM 1/24/2004, you wrote:
> >I have been following this very lively discussion regarding kinesiotaping.
> >We have had similar discussions amongst my colleagues. While I remain
> >skeptical and have stopped used kinesiotaping due to lack of evidence,
> >others have not.
>
> INteresting. Have your patients not responded favorably to yoru
> Kinesiotaping? How are you using it?
>
>
> >I am an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, our
> >professional organization. I recognize that our profession and educational
> >level is moving toward and has indeed arrived at a Doctorate of Physical
> >Therapy. We are striving to become the practitioner of choice when
> >patients require health care interventions for movement related
> >dysfunctions. I believe this level of responsibility requires evidence
> >that our interventions make a difference.
>
> Great! Good for you!
>
> Now who is going to pay you and everyone else in our profession to
> undertake these studies? Do you think we are all going to give up our
> personal lives and spare time to take on this challenge without any support
> from our employers? I work no fewer than 75 hours a week already. Why will
> I undertake research to prove that what I do that is satisfactory to my
> clients and to me in terms of our collective goals? So some money-grubbing
> company that robs millions of people of premium payments with no obligation
> to provide coverage for services so that their CEOs and upper
> administrative honchos can earn 6 million dollars a year in salary and
> perks will pay?
>
> Not a bad reason, but not my mission as a clinician. I'd rather barter for
> a hand-made coffee table in exchange for a serial casting course than go
> there. And I have.
>
> >What do PTs and PT students think? I question anecdotal statements, or
> >even the fact that Lance Armstrong uses kinesiotape (I am a big fan).
>
> I think that questioning anecdotal evidence is unnecessarily suspicious and
> cynical in this arena. We are here as friends, neighbors, collaborators,
> and to help each other out. I think that people who are using anything that
> is intended to benefit them have no reason to lie about their experiences,
> and tell their stories truthfully by and large, particularly if their
> stories are unsolicited and not paid for. Why do you doubt their testimony?
> Do you think they are paid to lie or something?
>
> We're not talking about weight loss magic pills here. We're talking about
> pain relief, quality of life supporting interventions, and physical therapy.
>
> >I attended a continuing education Course on Coding and Reimbursement
> >yesterday. Which brings up the question - How do you charge for
> >kinesiotape? Without published evidence in reputable journals, are we
> >expecting third party payors to reimburse this service?
>
> I don't care, myself. I don't have any trouble telling clients that the
> tape will cost them $15.00/roll. So far, they have no problem agreeing.
> I'll certainl;y not let profit-seeking third -arty payers determine what I
> will do for my clients. And the data they act on is as yet so sparse, how
> can you function as a clinician?
>
> I wonder if it might be a good idea to have everyone who is in practice
> as a PT (or physio) make a list and send it out to this listserv of the
> services they provide that are currently and soundly supported by research
> pertaining particularly to those interventions - and of course, what
> research? I think that such a list would be really helpful to us all.
>
> I'm not kidding. Waddya say?
>
> I ground my services in the sciences of human biomechanics, anatomy,
> kinesiology, developmental features, muscle physiology, and the pathos that
> accomany all these studies, and then there are a few studies that help me
> feel more confident about recommending particular strategies. But fot he
> most part, the people I work with are so complex and harbor so many
> variables that it is highly unlikely that most of what I have to offer is
> available in a randomized controlled trial data base.
>
> I don't plan to hang up my hat on that account.
>
> >Thanks for your input.
>
> Thanks for yours. I'm looking forward to learning the evidence-based
> parameters of clinical management.
>
> Regards -
>
> Billi Cusick
>
> >Lori Sabado, PT
> >Seattle, Washington
>
>
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