Medical Brief: Non-Surgical Treatment for Knee Pain

In a research study published in the June 2017 issue of Physical Therapy, Stevans et al analyzed health care utilization associated with non-traumatic knee pain. In an analysis of 10% of 52,504 Medicare claims for non-traumatic knee pain from 2009-2010, the authors found that of the 11.1% of beneficiaries who received physical therapy for their knee, their use of narcotics, injections, and knee surgery in the following 12 months was significantly less compared those patients who did not receive knee rehab. The authors concluded that there is significant benefit to trying conservative care like physical therapy prior to trying less conservative measures, as rehab may eliminate or delay the need for more invasive measures to address knee pain.