Physical Therapy and Manual Physical Therapy: Differences in Patient Characteristics

Abstract

This study compared socio-demographic characteristics, health problem characteristics, and primary process data between database samples of patients referred to physical therapy (PT) versus a sample of patients referred to manual physical therapy (MPT) in the Netherlands. Statistical analysis indicated that that the MPT sample was significantly (P<0.01) different from the PT samples with regards to the socio-demographic data in that the patients in the MPT sample were younger, had attended post-secondary education to a greater degree, and were more often gainfully employed. The MPT sample was significantly (P≤0.01) different from the PT samples in that health problem data in the MPT sample indicated mainly acute, non-surgical orthopaedic or neurological, spine-related complaints of recent occurrence. Recurrence was significantly (P<0.01) more common and complaints were significantly (P=0.01) more often non-traumatic in the MPT sample. MPT referrals were significantly (P<0.01) different from PT referrals in that the MPT referral originated more frequently with a general practitioner but not with a medical specialist and that referral occurred within three months of occurrence. Primary treatment goals and interventions are discussed, as are study limitations, suggestions for future research, and relevance to the international situation.